Human Rights Violations in Syria

We are lucky, as citizens of the United States, to live in a country in which war is not present.   For many of us, it is difficult to imagine how different our lives would be if our country became a warzone.  Citizens of Syria have no trouble imagining this scenario because, for them, it is their reality.  In Syria, a civil war is happening.  The country is divided because half of the people of Syria support their leader, President Bashar al-Assad, and the other half is against him.  Those who opposed him began peaceful protesting, wanting an overthrow of the government without violence.  In response to these protests, the Syrian government took violent action: kidnapping, raping, torturing, and murdering activists and their families (including all of their children) and disposing of their mutilated bodies along the sides of roads.  When troops began firing at civilians, civilians started shooting back too.  In addition to all of these violent human rights violations, the government is blockading cities, depriving civilians of water, food, and medical aid.  When I learned of this, I was shocked to know that over 191,000 people have been killed. It is alarming that a government would violate the human rights of their own citizens in this way. Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done to stop the violence in Syria, but, as Americans, it is important to be educated on this issue and to help by donating money to go towards food, water, and supplies for those who are unable to obtain these necessities.

Works Cited

“9 Questions about Syria You Were Too Embarrassed to Ask.” Washington Post. The Washington Post, n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2015.

“Syria: The Story of the Conflict.” BBC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.