“Syria is the only secular country in the Middle East.” – Steven Sahiounie from Mideast Discourse 2016.
The Syrian journalist explains: “This was established many decades ago, and when President Assad came to office in summer of 2000, he maintained this form of government. The Syrian people have become very used to the secular nature of Syrian government, and social life. There are 18 different religious sects in Syria. The government and institutions are all secular and protect the rights of all Syrians. In Syria there is no ruling sect, all sects are represented throughout the government, Parliament and military.” – Steven Sahiounie Mideast Discourse, 2016.
Perhaps it would have been tour to say that Syria had the last secular government not forgetting that Iraq was also a secular Society. And then the Americans came with their shock and awe in 2003.
Without Hezbollah, Assad was weak, despite his secret police and prisons. Sanctions by the West, climate crisis, terrible drought, Civil War, and hyperinflation have all led to the downfall of Assad’s secular rule. Many foreign nationals with a religious agenda have challenged the Syrian government since 2011. They were backed by the US, Israel, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
Qatar and Turkiye both wanted gas pipelines across Syria to supply a lucrative European market. In 2009, Assad vetoed any Qatar-Syria-Turkiye pipeline because it would compete with Russian energy. Be mindful when following media reports to understand the interests behind those media. For example, Al Jazeera reports about the new regime in Syria is biased towards its owner, Qatar’s interests.
Qatar possesses the largest known gas reserves in the world and wants to be able to provide the gas cheaply to Europe. It cannot do without a pipeline through Syria. The tanker transport of LNG is expensive and therefore less competitive.
On 12 Decemebr 2024, RT interviewed Steven Sahiounie by phone about the latest developments in Syria after the collapse of the Assad regime. Steven Sahiounie is a Syrian journalist and political commentator and Chief editor of Mideast Discourse. His report is very cautious because the people are afraid that there will be a fundamentalist government in Damascus. Syria is a very diverse society. And it is very poor. Ian Curr, 13 Dec 2024.