SOHR exclusive | “If major powers had wanted to solve Syrian crisis, they would have imposed settlement based on international resolutions,” says Faten Ramadan

The issue of detainees in Syria has been contentious and troubling, especially with the lack of initiatives by the international community to break the deadlock and reach entry points to negotiations with the Syrian regime and other warring parties, so that the fate of forcibly displaced individuals and conditions of detainees are disclosed.

 

In an interview with SOHR, the regime opponent, politician and the head of “Without Chains Organization,” Faten Ramadan stresses the importance to escalate struggle with the aim of disclosing the fate of female and male detainees, applying transitional justice and holding accountable all those who aided and abetted crimes and violations against Syrian people. Mrs. Faten also confirms that international advocacy campaigns are able to play out in favour of the path of a political settlement in Syria.

 

 

Q: You have been a defender of the issue of detainees in prisons, mainly regime prisons. In your opinion, why has the international community turned a blind-eye to this issue. And what is the reason behind ambiguity surrounding it?

 

A: My defence of detainees stems from the fact that I am a former detainee, as I was detained from 2002 to 2004 for my political activities which opposed Al-Assad’s regime before the Syrian Revolution. I was also arrested in 2014 for staging anti-regime demonstrations and my demands to address the issue of the victims of violence in Al-Zabadani and Madaya areas. Accordingly, I see that the issue of detainees is a matter of survival regarding the struggle of all Syrians against regime atrocities and its criminal practices.

 

On the other hand, the international community’s silence and indifference towards this tragedy and blatant violations, despite all of those pictures which shows tens of thousands of torture victims in prisons, are related to farther considerations by major powers which care only about achieving their conflict interests on the ground. This silence and indifference can be also attributed to our disunited efforts, as Syrian organisations and entities, under a real framework designed to highlight the plights of victims and atrocities and blatant violations committed by the barbaric Syrian regime and unify stances serving this issue in an appropriate way.

 

 

Q: After being released from regime prisons, female detainees struggle with the society’s harsh and exclusionary view, although they have been victims of free voice, how can the Syrian women gain dignity, respect and their rightful place in society be rehabilitated, after having suffered from inhumane torture oppression? And have feminist movement and organisations let them down?

 

A: Dignity and respect can be restored to female survivors through breaking the silence and fear from being seen as “a stigma” to society because of inhumane practices they endured duing detention. Female survivors have to talk about their bitter experiences in regime prisons, disclose regime atrocities and highlight their plights without fear or hesitation. Regarding the role of movements and organisations, a women’s real lobby comprising female survivors of from regime prisons and other prisons run by all warring parties in Syria have to be established with the aim of disclosing these atrocities under an institutional and organised framework which can internationally affect this issue.

 

 

Q: After involvement in the current considerable destruction, are there ways to stand up to occupying powers in Syria?

 

A: Of course yes. This can happen when civil, legal and human rights movements inside Syria unify their efforts, coordinate with international institutions and exert organise pressure on international actors concerned with the Syrian crisis to highlight all crimes and violations committed by occupying powers against Syrians, including the use of internationally banned weapons against Syrian civilians, bombarding populated and residential areas and institutions, such as schools and hospitals, and changing the demography of many areas across Syria.

 

 

Q: What is the real situation of Syrian women who have been affected the most by the war?

 

A: Sadly, Syrian women are struggling with an unfortunate situation and bitter conditions in light of the international community’s abandonment of Syrian females which manifests itself in the lack of support provided to Syrians within strong organisations working on rehabilitating them under sponsorship and help by human rights institutions and Western powers and under a legal and political framework to empower Syrian women and enable them to take part in achieve progress at all levels, the legal, documental, women’s rights and democratic transition situations.

 

 

Q: After 11 years of conflict and destruction, do you think that there is a political and peaceful settlement based on international resolutions looming on the horizon?

 

A: Of course, I do. When there is a real will and desire by influential powers concerned with the Syrian crisis, especially Western powers, to reach a settlement and implement international resolutions without skipping the role of national democratic Syrian institutions and authorities, then Syria will get rid of criminality, oppression, coercion and exploitation.

 

These steps start by taking a real action by the USA and countries of the United Nations, putting into consideration the repercussions of the Russian war on Ukraine, so that Syrians can enjoy a real national and democratic regime to replace the current Syrian regime, as well as applying resolutions of UN Security Council on the ground.

 

 

Q: What is your evaluation of the path of Syrian opposition since the beginning of the Syrian Revolution? Do you think it has successfully assumed the role entrusted by Syrians?

 

A: Unfortunately, the attendance of all opposition institutions has been lackluster, exclusionary and factional; this, in turn, has dramatically exacerbated the Syrian crisis and contributed to increasing the sufferings of Syrian people who have already been grappling with killing, violence and displacement and struggling with the severest catastrophe in the modern age.

 

As I have said, solutions can be reached through joint efforts under a real comprehensive national framework sponsored by UN and its proxies and with the willingness of international democratic powers in order to reach a country free of criminality and dictatorial and tyrannical figures.