Syria

Pulling together views and updates on the situation in Syria from a variety of WRI-linked commentators:

Syria: Nonviolence is Still an Option

from IFOR

PRESS RELEASE

30-01-2013 -- Groups organised in the European Network Against Arms Trade (ENAAT) strongly oppose any moves to amend the current EU arms embargo on Syria as proposed by the United Kingdom. A proposal to do so, to enable military equipment to be sent to anti-Assad groups, will most likely be presented to the Council of the European Union by the UK on Thursday 31 January.

Die Verschlimmerung von Gewalt und Repression in Syrien hat viele AnalytikerInnen und PolitikgestalterInnen in den USA und anderen westlichen Ländern um Wege ringen lassen, wie unsere Regierungen helfen können, das Blutvergießen zu beenden und jene zu unterstützen, die das Assad-Regime stürzen wollen. Der verzweifelte Wunsch, „etwas zu tun“, hat eine wachsende Zahl von Leuten veranlasst, vermehrte Militärhilfe für die bewaffneten Aufständischen oder gar eine direkte militärische Intervention zu fordern.

In a move seen as an attempt to address widespread discontent in the
country, Syrian president Assad issued Legislative Decree No. 35 for
2011 on 19 March 2011 lessening mandatory army conscription from 21
months to 18 months. The decress will come into force on 1 June 2011.
In 2005, military service had been shortened to two years.

CCPR/CO/84/SYR
9 August 2005

(...)

11. The Committee takes note of the information provided by the delegation whereby Syria does not recognize the right to conscientious objection to military service, but that it permits some of those who do not wish to perform such service to pay a certain sum in order not to do so (art. 18).

The State party should respect the right to conscientious objection to military service and establish, if it so wishes, an alternative civil service of a non-punitive nature.

(...)

25/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription exists

Conscription exists since 1946.

Conscription is enshrined in art. 40 of the Constitution, which states: "(I) All citizens have an obligation to carry out their sacred duty to defend the security of the homeland and to respect its Constitution and the socialist union system. (II) Military service is compulsory and is regulated by law."

The present legal basis of conscription is the 1953 National Service Act.