The Syrian Opposition Coalition’s (SOC) Office of Syrian Communities Abroad held a virtual meeting with the Syrian communities around the world to demonstrate the SOC’s activities in recent weeks and discuss with them ways to confront the elections farce that the Assad regime intends to hold in May.
The meeting brought together SOC’s Vice-president Ruba Habboush, Coordinator of the Syrian Communities Abroad Yahya Maktabi, Secretary-General of the political committee Riyad al-Hassan, Head of the National Commission for Missing and Detained Persons Yasser Al-Farhan, the SOC’s representative in Germany Fadel Al-Rifaie, and the SOC’s representative to the United Nations Maryam Jalabi.
In attendance were also head of the Syrian Community Council in Denmark Muhammad Bertawi, member of the Syrian community in Denmark Muhammad al-Hamdou, head of the Syrian community in Romania Imad Qassas, head of the Syrian community in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Jamil Daghestani, head of the Syrian community in Hatay Muhannad Khattab, head the Syrian community in Gaziantep Mustafa Al-Hussein, Vice-president of the Syrian community in Italy Al-Hakam Affandi, and journalist and member of the Syrian community in Romania Mazen Al-Rifaie.
Participants discussed the Syrian Women’s Forum held recently by the SOC’s Office for Women, the Syrian Revolution’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and ways to confront the Assad regime’s plans to hold farcical elections.
Habboush gave an overview on the first Syrian Women’s Forum, pointing out that the Forum came as part of the Office’s efforts to reach out to women’s bodies and organizations in the liberated areas.
She said that the Forum brought together female influencers in public affairs, adding that the pool of participants will expand in the future. She also said that the feminist movement in the liberated areas is facing many difficulties, including the absence of an official body working on the ground.
Moreover, Habboush stressed the need to strengthen the representation of women in the SOC and the institutions of the revolution as well as to allow women to reach decision-making positions. She noted that preparations are underway to establish the Syrian Women’s Commission which will prioritize women’s affairs in the liberated areas.
For his part, al-Farhan gave an overview on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which the SOC has adopted in recent weeks, stressing that rights and freedoms represent the core of the issue of the Syrian people’s revolution. He pointed out that despite the differences among the Syrian opposition, there is widespread agreement on the issue of rights and freedoms.
Al-Farhan pointed out that the Charter will act as guiding principles as it dealt with political, civil and social rights and the rule of law. He also pointed out that the Charter will be discussed with the leadership of the Syrian National Army, local councils and active forces in the liberated areas in order for it to be binding for all.
Journalist Mazen Al-Rifaie talked about the importance of confronting the farce of presidential elections that the Assad regime intends to hold in May. Head of the Syrian community in Denmark Muhammad Bertawi gave an overview on the decision to revoke the residence permits of hundreds of Syrian refugees in Denmark, stressing that Syrian communities in the diaspora must assume their role to stop the arbitrary repatriations through organizing sit-on protests in front of foreign ministries and the embassies of Denmark around the world. (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
