Syria’s South Dares Again: Suweida protests living standards, Assad, and the continuing instability

Protests are back in Syria. 

Twelve years since the start of the uprisings against the Assad regime, Syrians are still protesting. 

In the southern province of Suweida huge protests have erupted, in part, fuelled by the continuing fall in living standards across the country, but also for the same reasons that brought people out to the streets in 2011. 

They have now entered their fourth week, and so far, look set to continue. 

This week on The New Arab Voice, we look at the protests in Suweida. What do they want? What are their demands? Who is protesting, and are they the same people from 2011, or new people? And why have the protests seemingly been permitted to continue with their defiance?

Also, we look at the August 10th Movement. 

The August 10th Movement announced their formation just before the protests in Suweida, and declared themselves to be peaceful and non-sectarian. 

We ask, who they are? What do they want? And what prospects do they have to challenge the regime?

Joining us to talk about the protests, we have Jospeh Daher, (@JosephDaher19). Joseph works at the University of Lausanne and is a co-director is the Syrian Trajectory Project.

And, Wafa Ali Mustafa (@WafaMustafa9). Wafa is a Syrian journalist and activist, who now lives in Berlin. For a decade now, Wafa has campaigned tirelessly for Syria’s disappeared.

This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge. 

Theme music by Omar al-Fil. 

To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice.

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