Modest rally outside Syrian embassy in Prague calls for reforms, end of violence

Some two dozen members of the Syrian community in the Czech Republic staged a modest rally on Wednesday in front the country’s embassy in Prague. In the second such protest held in the Czech capital, they supported demands voiced by protesters across Syria, and called on the government to stop the violence against its people.

Photo: CTK

The word freedom in three languages – Arabic, Kurdish and Czech – resounded outside the Syrian embassy in Prague on Wednesday afternoon. Around 20 Syrian expats, along with several of their Czech friends, came there to protest against the Syrian government’s violent suppression of demonstrators, and to support their demands for freedom and democracy. One of the protestors was architect Hamman Yousef who settled in Prague more than three years ago.

“The main demands are the lifting of the emergency law that was implemented nearly 50 years ago, the immediate release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, and the investigation of those responsible for the death of more than a hundred people who died since the start of the protests two weeks ago.”

Photo: CTK

Some people at the rally held photos of victims of the Syrian government’s recent crackdowns on pro-democracy demonstrations; others had signs calling for freedom in their country. Wednesday was the second time they showed up in front of the embassy; the first such rally was held last week, and another one is planned for Friday. The protest was organized by Rasheed Khalil, a Prague resident of over 20 years.

“What’s happening in Syria is mad. The regime was shaken to the core when people started calling for freedom. The government could not stand this, and started shooting civilians.”

Backed by the Czech branch of the human rights advocacy group Amnesty International, organizers attempted to hand a protest petition to embassy officials. But the building, guarded by the police, remained shut and no one came out to pick it up. But Mr Kahlil says more rallies will follow until the government of President Bashar Assad begins with real reforms.

Photo: CTK

“We want real change to take place in Syria. The president has promised some things but people have no trust in the government or in the ruling party. We will continue until we feel that a real change has taken place, and that the times are changing.”

Rasheed Khalil estimates that there are several hundred Syrians living in the Czech Republic but they only began to organize recently, in reaction to the violence back home. Mr Khalil himself has not been back to his native land in 20 years, and says it is his dream to return one day to see his home, and to help build a new, democratic Syria.