Suhair Atassi is an outspoken Syrian activist living in Damascus. She runs the Jamal Atassi Forum group on Facebook, an extension of the banned Jamal Atassi Forum. The forum calls for political reforms in Syria and the reinstatement of civil rights and the cancellation of the emergency law that has suspended constitutional rights since 1963.
In an email interview with Al Jazeera, she shares her views on the need for political reform in her country.
She also describes how she and other activists were attacked during a vigil held in Damascus in solidarity with the pro-democracy protests in Egypt. Human Rights Watch has condemned this incident, which came as activists on Facebook and Twitter called on Syrians to take to the streets to protest against the government on February 4 and 5.
Were you involved in the campaign calling for demonstrations to be held in Syria February 4 and 5?
No. I called for a peaceful sit-in on February 3 in protest against the systematic looting and the continuing monopoly of Syria's two mobile phone operators, MTN and Syriatel.
Was there any intimidation of activists ahead of February 4? Did you receive any warnings not to participate?
I don't know about February 4. I have received threats for having participated in "A candlelight vigil for Egyptian demonstrators" and for calling for a peaceful sit-in against MTN and Syriatel. Threats began on January 27.
Were there any demonstrations anywhere in Syria that weekend?
Personally I did not hear about any sit-ins that took place in Damascus (where I live) on February 4 and 5. Streets were only filled with security forces.
Why do you think there were no big demonstrations?
Syria has for many years been a 'kingdom of silence'. It has witnessed an uprising known as 'Damascus Spring' which was soon suppressed by the authorities. The so-called 'Spring' lasted only for a few months and was quashed by a mouth-muzzling policy, with arrests and martial law, pre-decided trials dominated by security services, as well as discharges from work and travel bans. The state of emergency is still hanging as a sword above the necks of citizens. Fear is dominating people’s lives, despite poverty, starvation and humiliation. We do not expect that people can easily break the barrier of fear and silence."
]The Damascus Spring was a period of intense political and social debate in Syria which started after the death of President Hafez al-Assad in June 2000 and continued to some degree until autumn 2001, when most of the activities associated with it were suppressed by the government[
Do you think Syrians want change?
"The state of emergency is still hanging as a sword above the necks of citizens. Fear is dominating people’s lives"
I think Syrians are not satisfied with the reality of their lives. The Syrian regime has established in the minds of people such terrible dualism: 'to keep the regime or descend into chaos' as if it is the guarantor of stability in the country. It is merely cosmetic stability strongly imposed by using repression and fear. People are afraid of repeating Iraq’s scenario. Despite the intense resentment they have reached, they are afraid of change for the worse. Is there anything worse? That is the question. Is Iraq’s model the only model of change?
I think what has happened in Tunisia and Egypt has changed the equation and restored faith in people to bring change by their own hands and for their interests. When I was on my way to attend a sit-in against Syria's only mobile phone operators, the MTN and Syriatel, I explained to the taxi driver where I was going and why. He told me: 'Please organise a demonstration against the high cost of diesel prices. The cold is killing us'. I asked him: 'Are you ready to demonstrate with us against the high diesel price?' He replied 'I’m afraid of being arrested because I’m the only breadwinner for my family!'"
