Middle East

Ken Dayenu

(101 posts) Mon Jul 21, 2025, 12:42 PM 21 hrs ago

Selective outrage: Why the world looks away from Syria's atrocities but fixates on Gaza - analysis

Gaza is widely covered because it is symbolically and politically loaded. Syria is ignored because it is seen as broken, and no one cares.

The clashes in Syria pitting Bedouin tribes and Syrian military forces against the Druze began on July 11 with the assault of a Druze merchant by a member of a Bedouin tribe.

Fighting escalated quickly. By July 13, battles were underway in and around the Druze region of Sweida. Survivors of the fighting over the next three days described unspeakable brutality. Pictures emerged of Syrian soldiers humiliating Druze men by shaving off their moustaches—an act of deep dishonor in the Druze community. And yet, for the most part, the world did not take much notice.

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-861779

If anything, what I saw was people blaming Israel for the instability in Syria. I'm surprised Israel didn't get blamed to the large number of executions in Saudi Arabia.

6 replies

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Selective outrage: Why the world looks away from Syria's atrocities but fixates on Gaza - analysis (Original Post) Ken Dayenu 21 hrs ago OP

Aside from the order of magnitude difference in body count, the Oct. 7th atrocity and Eugene 20 hrs ago #1

Not just the Druze in the south and on the coast, also the Kurds in the NE. Grins 20 hrs ago #2

Dictator vs Democratic Theocracy Ken Dayenu 20 hrs ago #4

Order of magnitude won't make a difference Ken Dayenu 20 hrs ago #3

Not at all. But it does serve as nice deflection. AloeVera 19 hrs ago #5

200K civilians died in the a Syrian Civil War that included the use of chemical weapons Ken Dayenu 19 hrs ago #6

Eugene

(65,814 posts)

1. Aside from the order of magnitude difference in body count, the Oct. 7th atrocity and

Reply to Ken Dayenu (Original post)

Mon Jul 21, 2025, 01:03 PM

20 hrs ago

the general conflagration it has set off across the Middle East?

The Israel/Hezbollah and Israel/Houti conflicts don't get the column inches either.

Grins

(8,616 posts)

2. Not just the Druze in the south and on the coast, also the Kurds in the NE.

Reply to Ken Dayenu (Original post)

Mon Jul 21, 2025, 01:15 PM

20 hrs ago

On a PBS documentary a some time ago. Military beat and PUBLICLY MURDERED Druze on the coast, then went back on their word to the Kurds in the NE.

The critical issue: The new constitution brought religious clerics into power. It provided for Sharia to be the legal basis for law.

If there needs to be another reason for the separation of church and state, here it is!

The sad part is that the Syrians, finally free is Assad, brought it on themselves.

Ken Dayenu

(101 posts)

4. Dictator vs Democratic Theocracy

Reply to Grins (Reply #2)

Mon Jul 21, 2025, 01:37 PM

20 hrs ago

is always a tough call.

Ken Dayenu

(101 posts)

3. Order of magnitude won't make a difference

Reply to Ken Dayenu (Original post)

Mon Jul 21, 2025, 01:34 PM

20 hrs ago

Eugene,

The Yemen Civil War had 100s of thousands of death from fighting, malnutrition, and diseases. Were people following that this closely? Were they that invested?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemeni_civil_war_(2014–present)

I've noticed your posts are pretty even handed. You post about a lot of things. My comments are not directed towards you. I commented on your post previously because you happened to have posted about two different things and one got a lot more attention than the other.

AloeVera

(3,284 posts)

5. Not at all. But it does serve as nice deflection.

Reply to Ken Dayenu (Original post)

Mon Jul 21, 2025, 01:51 PM

19 hrs ago

You and/or the article author might have a point when:

At least 60,000 people have been bombed, sniped, shelled or burned to death in Syria - with our bombs and diplomatic, financial support and complicity.

The killing has been going on for nearly two years, not less than two weeks.

When Syria has devised a plan of mass starvation and is actively using it as a weapon of war while systematically shooting those seeking aid.

When people have started to die from organ failure caused by starvation.

When there are nearly 150,000 injured in Syria, from bombs, tanks and guns we've provided to injure them.

When Syria starts to systematically destroy the hospitals and kill over 1,000 medical staff.

When Syria starts to blame "human shields" for killing entire families in their homes, as soon as "Daddy" (doctors, nurses, journalists, policemen, government workers) has stepped in the door.

When Syria has anmounced to the world it plans to ethnically cleanse the Druze after providing them with all the comforts of a concentration camp. Those that won't go, won't eat.

Lots more, but this should be enough, no?

Ken Dayenu

(101 posts)

6. 200K civilians died in the a Syrian Civil War that included the use of chemical weapons

Reply to AloeVera (Reply #5)

Mon Jul 21, 2025, 02:08 PM

19 hrs ago

Were you this passionate about them?

I don't know how many times I have to say it. I think what is going on in Gaza is terrible and I think Israel should withdraw and do a prisoner exchange.

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