Revolution Reports

Arrest and assault of famous Syrian cartoonist

AVAAZ UPDATE: 25.8.11 ARREST AND ASSAULT OF FAMOUS SYRIAN CARTOONIST

While he was driving back from his office at 4am this morning the Syrian cartoonist Ali Ferzat was apprehended by security personnel. The masked gunmen, driving a van, set upon him in Omayyad Square in central Damascus. He tried to resist arrest but was badly beaten, and his hands in particular were targeted. He was forced into the van and taken away. Ali Ferzat was held for a few hours before his body was dumped on the Airport Road where he was found by some passers-by. The cartoonist was resuscitated and then taken to al Razi Hospital where he is now.

Following a medical examination it appears that his left hand is broken, he has cuts to the head and face as well as severe bruises to the chest.

Link to pictures of Ali Ferzat in hospital posted on Facebook
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=199538716776929&set=a.199538700110264.51892.144315515632583&type=1&ref=nf

Ali Ferzat website
www.ali-ferzat.com/

Please note: This was reported to us by his friend, the journalist Iyad Shurbaji.  He is the General Manager of Shabablek Media group and he and Ali are currently working on a project together. Iyad has said he is happy to do media interviews, but is currently off-line. Please let us know if you are interested.

Storming of Kanaker in Damascus suburbs

In this video what appears to be rows of troops are walking into the town at dawn. The sound of tank tracks are in the background.

Shabiha patrols and arrest

In these videos from Idleb, shabiha and state security can be seen patroling the streets on foot and in cars. In the first video they chase down two people and arrest them.

Here a man is arrested as groups of shabiha and state security holding large sticks walk around.

In the grainy video below the shabiha and security forces ride around the streets with their machine guns in plain view.

Homs protesters beaten; Damascus woman shot; Deraa demo

In this video from Homs, Syria state security forces beat and arrest unarmed protesters. 

WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES:

The woman in this video from Rikn Addin, Damascus has a severe injury in her arm that apparently came from shots fired by state security forces. 

Here in the Damascus suburb of Deraa, which was under siege by the Syrian military just months ago, hundreds take to the streets for “Prisoners of Freedom Friday”

Central Damascus protest

Here’s a video from Damascus in Meedan. In the beginning protesters are mingling around security forces, then they march through the city singing the national song and chanting “The people of Syria are one! One! One! One!” and “God, Syria, freedom, and that’s all!” 

Watch from 3:40 to hear the date (July 13, 2011) announced and then see people fleeing from state security forces. Several prominent actors, writers, journalists and intellectuals participated in the march. It’s rumored that several were arrested with an estimated 60 detainees from the protest. 

Among the possible detainees: actress Mai Skaf, journalist Iyad Sharbaji, twin movie actors Mohammad and Ahmad Malas, actor Nidal Hasan, author Yam Mashadi, author Rima Flaihan, photographer Guevara Nemr, Basel Shehadeh, Sasha Ayoub, Dana Bakdounis, Iyad El-Abed lellah, Fadi Zaidan, Omar Al-Jeba’ee, Abdulaziz Al-Dreid.

Pack your bags, Bashar

In the first video from Lattakia on July 10 protesters wave a large Syrian flag and chant the refrain: “Pack your bags, Bashar!” (ضب غراضك يا بشار). In the second video well-known figures such as journalists, actors, writers and intellectuals march in the Meedan district of Damascus on July 13.

In one verse they say:

If you won’t be punished
Be quick and withdraw the army
Or follow your brother Muammar (Gaddafi)
And pack your bags, Bashar

إزا ما بدك تتدهور

 عجل واسحب العسكر

حصل أخوك معمر

وضب غراضك يا بشار 

Syrian Soldier Testimony

The numbers of Syrian military who are defecting are increasing all the time- soldiers of all ranks  are becoming disillusioned with the regime’s brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters and are suffering themselves if they threaten to disobey. Instead of stopping the desertions this has served to embolden other military personnel.

This soldier’s identity has been obscured for his personal safety but Avaaz has copies of his security papers and have verified their validity.

See the Arabic version without subtitles here. 

Syrian Soldier Testimony from Avaaz Arab Awakening on Vimeo.

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