Archive: syria

4th July 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
Writing in the Saudi-owned paper, as-Sharq al-Awsat, Hussein Shobokshi discusses the recent visit to Syria by senior figures from leading American IT companies: Microsoft, Dell, Cisco Systems and Symantec. He points out that the ability of these companies to do business in Syria is at present… Read more
30th June 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
Around 25 men arrested at gay parties in Syria earlier this year are expected to go on trial shortly, according to a note posted on Facebook. Seventeen of them are facing three to seven years in jail for "unnatural acts" while others are likely to be tried for drugs offences. The Gay Middle East… Read more
28th June 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
The long-running drought in eastern Syrian – and the upheaval it is causing – has so far received scant attention. The UN's World Food Programme says it has received less than half the $22m needed to support 300,000 vulnerable people this year. Consequently, 110,000 will not be given help and the… Read more
24th June 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
The Gay Middle East website (GME) has published a reportsummarising the situation for gay people in Syria –a country which is rarely discussed in this connection. Although "carnal relations against the order of nature" are still punishable by up to three years in jail, GME detects some improvement… Read more
26th April 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
Writing on the Syria Comment blog, Joshua Landis asks: "Why are US analysts surprised that Syria arms Hizbullah?" It's a good question, reflecting a lack of balance in US policy when it comes to Syria and Israel. Referring to current debate about sending a US ambassador to Syria, Landis suggests… Read more
19th February 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
As the US prepares to send an ambassador to Syria for the first time in five years, elements on the American right are fighting a limp rearguard action against engagement with the Damascus regime. Syria expert Joshua Landis discusses this on his blog and argues that sanctions have failed miserably… Read more
27th January 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
Syria has launched a new initiative to "create more space for civil society to work", according to Rami Khouri in the Lebanese Daily Star. He discusses a conference in Damascus last weekend on “the emerging role of civil society in development”, which was addressed by First Lady Asma al-Assad and… Read more
9th December 2009
By: Brian Whitaker
Following the unlamented closure of the government-run Syria Times last year, a new English-language daily is being launched in Damascus today. It's called Baladna English and it's produced by the United Group, already publishes the Arabic-language Baladna. So far, there's nothing on its website … Read more
4th December 2009
By: Brian Whitaker
The explosion in Damascus yesterday that wrecked the back and side of an Iranian bus, killed at least three people, started a fire and smashed windows in a building nearby was caused by the bursting of an over-inflated tyre – at least, according to the Syrian interior minister who attended the… Read more
12th October 2009
By: Brian Whitaker
After years of delay, the text of the EU’s association agreementwith Syria has been finalised and will be signed on October 26. The move is seen partly as a reward to the Damascus regime for progress so far and also as a way of encouraging further changes in its behaviour. The last few months have… Read more