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Title: Idlib Resists Author: Leila Al Shami Date: November 9, 2019 Language: en Topics: Syria, Syrian Revolution, popular opposition to dictatorship, revolution Source: Leila's blog, November 9, 2019 ( https://leilashami.wordpress.com/2019/11/09/idlib-resists/ ) Notes: from: Leila's blog, November 9, 2019: a blog on popular struggles, human rights and social justice from an anti-authoritarian perspective
Over the past few days a popular uprising has broken out across Idlib
against the hardline Islamist group HTS (formerly Al-Qaeda linked Nusra)
which is militarily dominant in much of the province.
The recent uprising began when HTS increased Zakaat (taxes) on a number
of goods and services including bread, electricity and olive oil.
In Kafar Takharim, a town in north-western Idlib, which is dependent on
olive oil production for income, locals refused to pay increased taxes
and attempts by HTS to control the olive oil presses.
The local council in Kafar Takharim has long resisted attempts at take
over by the HTS linked Salvation Government. Locals staged protests and
stormed HTS controlled olive presses and police stations, successfully
evicting HTS from their community.
HTS surrounded the town and demanded that locals hand over a number of
individuals who participated in the protests under threat of
retaliation. The locals refused and determined to continue their
resistance against the militants.
On 6 November HTS forces besieged the town and began attacking it with
mortar and machine gun fire killing at least 3 people and injuring
others. But the locals continued resisting and all around Idlib towns
and villages rose up in solidarity with Kafar Takharim, demanding that
HTS and it’s leader Jolani leave the province. People took to the
streets in Idlib city, Salqin, Maarat Al Nu’man, Darkush, Samarda,
Ariha, Kurin, Armanaz and elsewhere. People from Armanaz and Idlib city
began marching towards Kafar Takharim to try and break the siege but
were blocked by HTS militants. On 7 November protesters from Salqin
managed to break into the town from the north.
Popular resistance to HTS has been a regular occurrence in Idlib
province and chants against Jolani are regularly heard at the
anti-regime protests which are held almost every Friday. Many see the
group’s authoritarianism as no different from that of the regime.
HTS militants increased their control over the province in January
following intense fighting with rebel groups. Since then it has
attempted to impose control over civilian governance through the
creation of the Salvation Government which has taken over service
provision, local councils and education despite the wide-spread
resistance of locals who have courageously attempted to defend their
autonomy and the democratic institutions they established following
liberation from the regime.
People were further outraged by wide-spread arrests which have targeted
civil society activists and media workers some of whom are reported to
have died under torture in HTS-run prisons. HTS is widely believed to
have been behind the assassinations of Raed Fares and Hamoud Jneed in
November 2018 who were key figures in revolutionary organizing in Idlib
and involved in the popular independent radio station Radio Fresh.
In September large scale protests erupted against HTS and the continuing
aerial bombardment of the province by the regime and Russia. The regime
intensified its assault on the province in April conducting a
scorched-earth campaign against residential areas which has caused
around half a million to flee, has killed over 1,000 and has directly
targeted civilian infrastructure including over 50 hospitals and medical
centres.
The dominant narrative promoted by the regime and supporters of Syrian
fascism is that Idlib is a ‘terrorist enclave’. The presence of a few
thousand extremist militants is presented as justification for the
campaign of extermination waged against Idlib’s civilian population of
some 3 million people, which includes 1 million children.
Today’s uprising should challenge this narrative. Syrians have
continually resisted all forms of authoritarianism and sought to defend
their autonomy and desire for freedom and democracy since 2011.
Despite being trapped between the regime and extremists, Idlib remains
home to many inspiring civil initiatives and outpourings of creative
resistance. Just a few weeks ago, 20 year old rapper Amir Al Muarri
released the fierce track ‘On All Fronts’ produced in Idlib. The video
(which has subtitles in English, Spanish and Russian) provides a
portrait of the province and the diversity of its residents who continue
to survive and resist despite living apocalyptic conditions. He spares
no criticism for the brutality of the regime, the armed factions which
have hijacked the revolution and the foreign interventions of Russia,
Iran and Turkey.
It’s people like Amir and the civilians risking their lives to protest
today who are Syria’s future and who defy lazy assumptions that the
choice Syrians face is between a fascist regime and Al Qaeda. There’s
always been a third option.