Syrian coalition against Assad formed

Published
0

Syrian Kurds hold a former Syrian flag as they gather outside the UN office in the northern Iraqi Kurish city of Arbil on August 15. –AFP Photo

NICOSIA: More than 40 Syrian “revolution blocs” have forged a coalition to unite their efforts against the regime of Bashar al-Assad, according to a statement received Friday by AFP.

The so-called Syrian Revolution General Commission (SRGC) said the coalition was formed due to “the dire need to unite the field, media and political efforts” of the pro-democracy movement launched in mid-March.

Forty-four groups signed up to join the SRGC as part of “merging all visions of all revolutionaries from all coalitions and coordinators mutually focusing primarily on toppling the oppressive and abusive regime.”

The long-term aim of the coalition is also to build “a democratic and civil state of institutions that grants freedom, equality, dignity and respect of human rights to all citizens,” said the statement.

“We announce today the establishment of (the) 'Syrian Revolution General Commission', the result of merging all the signatory Syrian Revolution blocs both inside and outside Syria and those who are invited to join as well in order to have through this commission a representation of the revolutionaries all over our beloved Syria,” it said.

The group paid tribute to the “blood of the thousands of fallen heroes” and also praised “the sacrifices of tens of thousands of prisoners of opinion who were tortured, displaced and persecuted” by the Assad regime.

“We hereby renew our vow to all of them that we shall not betray the pact we sealed together not deviate from the path they walked through and sacrificed for,” said the English-language statement.

The coalition urged all groups involved in the pro-democracy movement to close ranks and join them “to achieve the goals of the revolution and bring out its voice to all corners of the world.”

Those who signed the statement include protests committees from across Syria, including flashpoint cities and towns, as well as The Syrian Revolution 2011 Facebook page, one of the drivers of the protests.

Opinion

Editorial

No talks
Updated 17 Oct, 2026

No talks

The government should understand that the PTI’s protest march and its reaction to it will look like nothing more than a storm in a teacup.
Strengthening LGs
17 Oct, 2026

Strengthening LGs

THE ECP has done well to refuse to allow the Punjab administration to push the local government elections to April....
Lesser citizens
17 Oct, 2026

Lesser citizens

FOR decades, discrimination and prejudice have narrowed the space for the country’s minority communities. The HRCP...
Deadly classrooms
Updated 16 Oct, 2026

Deadly classrooms

Parents should not have to become structural engineers to judge whether their children are safe at school.
Diplomatic options
Updated 16 Oct, 2026

Diplomatic options

Regional states know that the alternative to talks — a fully fledged war on both fronts — will bring immeasurable destruction to the Gulf, the Red Sea and the surrounding areas.
Hunger in Pakistan
16 Oct, 2026

Hunger in Pakistan

PAKISTAN’S position as the country most affected by hunger in South Asia is not surprising. An economy battered by...