person:fayez sara

A Syrian American in Paris
►http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/2890/a-syrian-american-in-paris

The next day, I arrived to Paris, the capital of the Syrian Opposition in the diaspora. The leading figures are all here at the moment: Burhan Ghalioun, Bassma Kudmani, Michel Kilo, Fayez Sara, Haytham Manna’, among others. I had only been in the city for a few hours when my friends insisted we go to the protest being held in honor of Tammo. Although I had not been to a single protest in America, when in Paris, you do as the Syrians do.

[...]

I decided to speak to Monsieur Kilo directly. He invited me to sit next to him, wanting to hear the ideas of the “Syrian American blogueuse.” I told him that the silent majority inside Syria is not going to back the opposition unless they see a strong, united front. They were watching the divided conferences and the Al Jazeera arguments, and they were not convinced. How did the opposition expect them to sacrifice their safety or even their comfort for a cause that seemed weak, scattered, and petty? He listened and agreed. He believed in the necessary unity of the opposition as well. But judging by the surrounding environment, I was not convinced either. Disappointed was an understatement.

Michel Kilo: Syria’s Prudent Dissident | Al Akhbar English
►http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/michel-kilo-syria’s-prudent-dissident

Kilo has chosen to work from within Syria, along with other Syrian activists, including Hassan Abdel Azim, Hussein al-Awdat, and Fayez Sara. Recently, he helped convene the Semiramis and Halbun conferences and the opposition past its deadlock. These conferences succeeded in rebutting the regime’s narrative that the opposition was weak and divided and that it refused dialogue. Conference participants were drawn from activists living inside Syria who retained a connection with the Syrian street. It was generally assumed that the regime would take the opportunity and enter into serious dialogue with the opposition following the conference.

Kilo has recently taken strong public stances against armed revolt and sectarianism, ideas which have received some support in certain circles. He writes that armed revolt “will lead to a battle that will be won by the side with more weapons, the side that is willing to use the most force. If weapons are used, then the struggle for rights will turn into bloody barbarism with no aim beyond killing the other.”