Haus der Demokratie und Menschenrechte, Greifswalder Straße 4, 10405 Berlin
12 years and counting: The ongoing fight for freedom in Syria
A panel discussion
organized by the Syria coordination group
Amnesty International Germany
Special guest: The Syrian human rights defender and former political prisoner Mr. Omar Alshogre, who is currently on a Germany-wide speaker tour at the invitation of and organized by Amnesty International.
Background: In this panel discussion we want to shed light on the war in Syria, which has been going on for over 12 years now. We will also discuss the current protests against the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which restarted in Syria in summer 2023. Paying attention to the situation in Syria at this stage is crucial, as the League of Arab States is seeking to normalise diplomatic relations with Syria. This ‘normalisation’ process entails the risk that the ongoing grave human rights violations in Syria, including torture and enforced disappearances go unpunished. Human rights violations have occurred daily since Bashar al-Assad took over power in Syria in 2000. Another potential consequence of the ‘normalisation’ process with Syria could be that more countries will follow. Thus, Bashar al-Assad might never be held accountable for the massive human rights violations taking place under his rule.
Our panellists are:
- Omar Alshogre is a Syrian human rights defender, public speaker and member of the Syrian Emergency Task Force.
- Carsten Wieland is a German diplomat, Senior Policy Advisor and former senior UN consultant on Syria.
- Svenja Rosalie Borgschulte is part of the Managing Board for Adopt a Revolution.
Moderation: Elisabeth Pohlgeers (Syria coordination group Amnesty International Germany)
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The panel discussion will be held in English
Music by Wassim Mukdad.
Photo: (c) Omar Alshogre