A new poll showing the majority of Syrian refugees in Germany blame the Assad regime for the destruction in Syria, and saying it is one of the main reason they will not return to their country.
Member of the political committee Nasr al-Hariri said that the Assad regime’s brutality is behind the flow of Syrian refugees to Europe when it resorted to violence against peaceful protests since early 2011. To crush the popular uprising, the Assad regime has used heavy weapons to indiscriminately bomb residential areas and markets as well as detained thousands of Syrians in its secret prisons and imposed conscription.
Member of the political committee Suhair Atassi said that Europe’s reception of Syrian refugees is a temporary solution, pointing out that the problem will continue if its root is not addressed. She stresses that an increasing proportion of the Syrians do not see opportunities for prosperity or stability in Syria as a result of the Assad regime practices. She added that Syrians do not want to spend their life in the refugee camps, noting easing the refugee crisis requires a strategy that reflects a willingness to find a just political solution in Syria without Bashar al-Assad.
The poll, which was conducted by the Syrian-German “Adopt a Revolution” organization, covered nearly 900 refugees who were asked about the reasons for their departure from Syria. 69.5% said that the Assad regime is primarily responsible for the crimes in Syria, while 31.6% hold ISIS responsible.
52% said they would return only if Assad left, while 42% said they will return to Syria if ISIS is defeated. 42% set free elections as condition for their return, while 67% said that “the Assad regime’s war on the Syrian people must stop before they think to return. Only 8% said they do not want to return.
Based on the results of the poll, leader the German Green party Jim Özdemir said that the German federal government and the European Union should be aware that a main cause of the tragedy in Syria is Assad and his barrel bombs, adding that there can be a political solution in Syria only without Assad. (Source: Syrian Coalition)