by Muhammad Amir Siddique
Vienna Demonstrates Against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
On the 13th anniversary of the revolution, a demonstration against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad took place in Vienna. Led by Abdulhkeem Alshater from the association “Free Syrian Community of Austria,” the demonstration aimed to express solidarity with the people in Palestine as well. The gathering took place at Vienna’s Westbahnhof train station, with the meeting point being Christian-Brode-Platz in Vienna’s sixth district. According to the Vienna police, approximately 1,000 people were registered for the demonstration, although the exact number of attendees remains unknown.
The Syrian Revolution and the Dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is widely considered a ruthless dictator. Initially, there were hopes that he would bring about democratic reforms following his father’s 29-year rule. However, he continued to employ authoritarian methods, as evidenced by the violent suppression of the Arab Spring protests in 2011. The regime used torture, imprisonment, and military force against demonstrators.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) estimates that since March 2011, over 230,000 civilians have lost their lives, with some attributing these deaths to the Assad regime and ISIS. Shockingly, over 15,300 individuals, including nearly 200 children, are believed to have died as a result of torture. Additionally, more than 110,000 people have been forcibly abducted and are still missing.
Vienna’s Lively Demonstration for Freedom
The demonstration in Vienna was an extraordinarily lively event, with participants alternating between chanting and singing against the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad. Around 2,000 Syrian migrants took part in the march, which marked the 13th anniversary of the Syrian revolution. Several Syrian speakers, as well as one from Ukraine, addressed the crowd.
Michael Pröbsting, the International Secretary of the RCIT, was the first speaker at the final rally. He emphasized that the Syrian revolution is still ongoing and that this demonstration served as confirmation of its continued existence. Pröbsting extended greetings to the heroic peoples in Syria and Palestine who are fighting for their freedom against tyranny. He also highlighted the reactionary role played by imperialist powers, with Russia supporting Assad and the United States backing Israel.
In conclusion, Pröbsting stated that Syria can only achieve freedom if the working people take political power and control the economy themselves.
