Syrian protesters decide to continue during Ramadan, prompting the Syrian regime to resort to massive force in an attempt to stamp out the popular uprising, reports Bassel Oudat in Damascus Two weeks ago, Syria witnessed an extensive wave of arrests amid demonstrations that began more than four months ago. Cities put under siege and military and security presence intensified as the month of Ramadan approached, in an attempt to quash protest. According the National Human Rights Organisation, Syria has been transformed into a "massive prison". On Sunday, on the eve of Ramadan, hundreds of army tanks accompanied by thousands of forces raided three Syrian cities noted for strong protests, namely Deraa, Hama and Deir Al-Zur, along with some towns on the outskirts of Damascus. Tanks shelled districts in Hama and Deir Al-Zur in a measure that authorities believed would deal a final blow to the popular uprising demanding freedom and the overthrow of the regime. The action led to the largest number of deaths in one day since protests began, estimated by human rights monitors as more than 150 unarmed civilians, some of who were children. On the same day, sweeping demonstrations filled streets across Syria, more than on any previous Friday. Protests were largest in the cities that were raided by the army, despite the killings there. Meanwhile, several cities declared extensive strikes in solidarity with the besieged cities and the media reported that there were splits among army ranks in several regions. Ramadan has become a nightmare for the Syrian regime. Security authorities expect every day in Ramadan to be like the Fridays of the past four months, after protesters and the opposition declared that they would go out to demonstrate everyday after taraweeh (late night) prayers at every mosque in Syria. Taraweeh prayers after Iftar (breaking fast) have become a ritual for many who don't usually go to the mosque for prayers during other times of the year. There are more than 9,000 mosques in Syria, and if 50 security personnel are needed at each mosque to prevent worshippers from protesting, this would require nearly half a million in security forces to ensure no demonstrations leave any of Syria's mosques, which is almost impossible. Accordingly, snuffing out protests before Ramadan begins was the only option left for the regime, according to its security and intelligence agencies. "It is obvious that the Syrian authorities believe they can end protests before Ramadan begins through terrorising protesters and stepping up violence," a prominent opposition figure that preferred to remain anonymous told Al-Ahram Weekly. "The regime is terrified of this month. In Damascus alone, there are 600 mosques that will be launching points of daily protests. They need at least 60,000 security personnel to control them; Syrian security forces are incapable of that." Several Syrian officials close to the regime said last week that the days leading up to Ramadan would be "decisive -- no matter at what cost". Hence, security forces assisted by Special Forces units and what are known as "thugs" carried out massive random arrests across the country on the streets, alongside raiding homes and sabotaging private property. Syrian human rights groups reported that the number of those killed since protests broke out on 15 March has reached more than 2,000 civilian demonstrators, while more than 20,000 are arrested and more than 75,000 were arrested and released. Activists hope that Ramadan will give incentive to the movement demanding democracy and the ouster of the president. "Ramadan will change the game plan," Ammar Al-Qorba, director of the National Human Rights Organisation, told the Weekly. "Protesters are planning even bigger demonstrations this month because people stay up later during this month and visit mosques more often." Many opposition figures expect that Ramadan will also witness unprecedented escalation in violence by security forces against protesters in many forms. They expect the regime to resort to more force and violence, using all its power in dealing with demonstrations if the situation gets out of hand. "Every demonstration, no matter how small, is a nightmare for the regime," Razan Zeitouna, a human rights activist, told the Weekly. "Especially, that this is a month when people gather daily and go out in protests from a large number of mosques more than once a day. From past experience, we have found that demonstrations escalate in proportion to the force of suppression being used, but the stupidity of the regime and its incompetence on all levels makes it repeat the same [mistakes] again and again." Anti-Bashar Al-Assad activists say that demonstrations will grow gradually in Ramadan, beginning with smaller gatherings during the day and after dawn prayers to become massive strikes after taraweeh prayers. Several anti-regime Facebook pages began organising strikes at the end of Ramadan in Al-Amawiyeen Square -- the largest square in the capital Damascus located metres away from President Al-Assad's palace. Syrians have begun storing food and provisions out of fear of a sudden hike in prices because of lack of supplies, or if cities are put under siege or via strikes by storeowners. Meanwhile, Syrian authorities asserted that the markets are stable with plenty of provisions, in order not to antagonise the people during the holy month where demand on food is high, and that there will be patrols monitoring the markets to control the prices of staple foods. This year there was no publicity for communal Iftar meals for the poor, usually sponsored by religious organisations, charities and the wealthy. Informed sources said that the regime is trying to prevent any public gatherings that could escalate into demonstrations. Meanwhile, vendors at Al-Hamidiya Market in Damascus did not decorate their shops as per tradition during Ramadan, "in mourning for the martyrs", they said. Since the beginning of protests, demonstrations start at mosques, especially after Friday prayers. For this reason, some intellectuals and officials loyal to the regime attempted to paint the Syrian revolution as a Salafi or religious movement, but leftist and Islamist protesters and opposition assert that mosques are the only public venue in Syria where for over 40 years people can gather without being arrested. Even this rule was broken in the past few months, as security and intelligence forces raided mosques in Deraa, Halab and other cities, arresting imam s and worshippers, as well as killing some of those inside. The opposition emphasised that Syrians from across the religious and political spectrum are taking part in protests that start at mosques or gather outside, including Christians. Security agencies have relied on clerics loyal to the regime to play an effective role in ending demonstrations before Ramadan began. Some clerics issued fatwa s (religious edicts) banning protests on the basis that what is taking place "are attempts to destroy Syria and shatter its national unity". Minister of Religious Endowments Mohamed Abdel-Sattar Al-Sayed said that the crisis in Syria is "unsalvageable" and that Ramadan "will be the beginning of the end". Al-Sayed asserted: "There is no reason to go out in protest," adding that during Ramadan mosques "should be venues for lessons in jurisprudence, reciting Quran and learning about the Prophet's life." Mohamed Said Ramadan Al-Buti, another prominent cleric, said that anyone who wants to overthrow the Syrian regime wants to overthrow Islam based on instructions from those who are outside the boundaries of the law and religion. Meanwhile, some news sites reported that the Mufti cancelled taraweeh prayers; the leading religious figure was quick to deny the rumours. Syria announced the launch of the first religious satellite channel called Nour Al-Shamm (Light of the Levant) established in cooperation between the Syrian leadership and several clerics loyal to the regime. The official Syrian News Agency reported that the channel would broadcast Friday sermons and religious programming "to correct understandings of Islam and the laws of Sharia". The news was met with mixed reactions; some welcomed the idea while others felt it contradicted Syrian tradition of the state standing at some distance from all religions. The coordinators of the revolution responded to the Syrian religious institution with one fatwa by Sheikh Hashim Islam, member of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee and the International Union of Muslim Clerics, stating: "The smoke of bombs does not break the fast," and that "A revolutionary is permitted to break his fast if there is a necessity." The situation in Syria is unpredictable. The picture might become clearer in the coming days, especially as protesters affirmed that demonstrations would escalate gradually. Anyone who sees the determination of the youth to take to the streets with bare chests to face tanks, armoured vehicles and swarms of security forces, trying to prevent them from entering their cities and neighbourhoods, will become convinced that Ramadan will not be an easy month for the regime and may lead to its end.
