BRAZIL: Syrian immigrants, descendants and supporters rally to call for democratic elections and for an end to the bloody crackdown on protesters in the Middle Eastern country

Record ID: 278877

  • Title: BRAZIL: Syrian immigrants, descendants and supporters rally to call for democratic elections and for an end to the bloody crackdown on protesters in the Middle Eastern country
  • Date: 30th April 2011
  • Summary: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (APRIL 29, 2011) (REUTERS) VIEW OF MEMBERS OF SYRIAN COMMUNITY IN BRAZIL AND OTHER SUPPORTERS PROTESTING AGAINST THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT'S VIOLENCE AGAINST CIVILIAN DEMONSTRATORS CLOSE OF SYRIAN FLAG VIEW OF DEMONSTRATORS CHANTING SYRIAN DESCENDANTS IN WHEELCHAIRS HOLDING POSTER READING: "SAVE SYRIA" VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS CHANTING DURING RALLY VARIO
  • Embargoed: 15th May 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil, Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAC3FO0K4MEVEHLMBEY6B1GOGAY
  • Story Text: Dozens of members of Brazil's Syrian community and other supporters gathered on Sao Paulo's busiest avenue on Friday (April 29) to call on an end to escalating attacks against civilian protesters in Syria.
    Holding posters and wearing t-shirts with flags of Brazil and Syria, the demonstrators shouted messages against President Bashar Assad's regime in both Portuguese and Arabic.
    The top U.N. human rights body condemned Syria on Friday for using deadly force against peaceful protesters and launched an investigation into killings and other alleged crimes.
    Friday's bloodshed occurred as demonstrators across the country again defied heavy military deployments, mass arrests and a ruthless crackdown on the biggest popular challenge to 48 years of authoritarian Baath Party rule.
    Syrian immigrant Moukhles Al Bannoud said Brazil's community was united to support pro-democracy protesters in his home country.
    "Our Syrian and Arabic community in Brazil organized this rally today against the Syrian dictatorship," he said.
    A Syrian rights group said this week at least 500 civilians had been killed since unrest broke out in Deraa in mid-March. Authorities dispute the death toll.
    The head of Sao Paulo's Muslim Association, Mohamad El Kadri, said their initiative would help motivate the pro-democracy demonstrators.
    "Our objective is to show the people of Syria who are fighting that here in Brazil there are people demonstrating solidarity and support to their battle. I think this is very important to them because it will give them more will power and faith," he said.
    Brazilian ruling party Senator Eduardo Suplicy said President Dilma Rousseff's government favored a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
    "The government of President Dilma (Rousseff) has been supporting an understanding between all political forces in Syria and Libya so that weapons are not used against demonstrators," he said.
    Brazil was among key swing states that supported the Western resolution. Pakistan, China and Russia voted against it, denounced meddling in Syria's internal affairs and accused the council of double standards.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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