The Golan predicament : Syrians at crossroads over support for Assad

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  • The Golan predicament: Syrians at crossroads over support for Assad - Your Middle East
    http://www.yourmiddleeast.com/features/the-golan-predicament-syrians-at-crossroads-over-support-for-assad_9

    In early summer, as the situation in Syria descended into a bloody civil war, the organizers stepped up their activities. They began to hold tri-weekly meetings and weekly demonstrations on Friday evenings in Majdal Shams. They studied YouTube footage of protests in Dar’a and other cities to learn local chants and slogans. Their rallies grew steadily, from a few dozen attendees in early June to a peak of more than 150 in late July.

    Despite their activity, the anti-regime organizers in the Golan Heights have not attracted mainstream local support for their movement. Support for Assad remains strong in Majdal Shams and the surrounding villages, even as the civilian death toll in Syria rises (some residents said that the death toll was exaggerated; others said that the crackdown was a necessary price for long-term security).

    Many of the Syrians in the Golan Heights genuinely support the current Syrian regime. Most of the population adheres to the minority Druze religion (a faith that grew out of Shi’a Islam in the 11thcentury). Many are grateful to Bashar al-Assad for promoting a secular national identity for Syrians and maintaining stability in a region devastated by sectarian strife.