President Bashar al-Assad is back in the Arab League in January. The Arab League suspended Syria’s membership in 2011 due to the ongoing civil conflict in the country. The action is a diplomatic success for al-Assad, who has issues of crimes against humanity and war crimes. In this essay, we will take a more in-depth look at the history of the ongoing crisis in Syria, the reasoning behind the decision made by the Arab League, and the ramifications of Syria’s readmission.
Background on the Syrian Conflict
In 2011, nonviolent demonstrations against the Assad administration came face to face with harsh crackdowns, which led to the beginning of the war in Syria. The demonstrations eventually developed into a full-fledged civil war, in which several opposition organizations, including Islamist extremists, fought against the Syrian army and its supporters. The conflict has been a mixture of human rights violations, including chemical weapons, the forced relocation of many people, and the direct targeting of civilians. The outcome of violence was the deaths of 500,000+ people and the displacement of more than 6 million.
Arab League’s Decision
In 2011, the Arab League suspended Syria’s membership due to the Assad administration’s brutal reaction to the protesters. Since then, opinions within the Arab League over Syria’s readmission have fallen on the left and right. While certain members, like Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, have been actively advocating for readmission, others, like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have vehemently opposed the idea. Despite this, the Arab League has voted to readmit Syria, claiming a desire to help the country’s post-war rebuilding and its battle against terrorism as the reason for the decision to readmit Syria.
The Stats and Hurdles of Syrian Refugees
The crisis in Syria has resulted in one of the most severe refugee crises that have occurred anywhere in the globe in recent years. As of 2021, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that more than 6.7 million Syrians are living as registered refugees around the globe.
Acquiring housing, food, and water is among the many challenges Syrian migrants encounter. In refugee camps, many people live in unclean and overcrowded circumstances, which may contribute to developing health issues. Children are particularly susceptible to abuse since many cannot attend school and lack access to education and even primary medical care.
The economic and social circumstances of refugees from Syria are difficult. They often face discrimination in the nations that take them in, and it may not be easy to find a job that will allow them to provide for their families. This disparity leads to many forms of abuse, including human trafficking, exploitation, and abuse.
There is a concerted effort by the UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations to give help to Syrian refugees. The international community should maintain its support and help for people who the violence in Syria has impacted. This effort guarantees that refugees get the assistance they need to rebuild their lives.
Implications of Syria’s Readmission
There has been a range of responses from people on the decision to readmit Syria. Those who support it claim that it will contribute to the stabilization of the area and make rebuilding Syria easier. They also point out that Syria’s removal from the Arab League has not done anything to quell the bloodshed and has only further isolated the nation. They say that this is a significant bone of contention among the experts. On the other side, those opposed to the decision claim that it sends the wrong message and legitimizes the Assad dictatorship of committing crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The Wrap Up
The Assad administration has scored a significant diplomatic win with the successful readmission of Syria to the Arab League. On the other hand, it is not yet clear if this move would assist in stabilizing the area or will further legitimize a government accused of terrible human rights violations.
