Thread by @SyrianACD

“The main obstacle to a safe & dignified return is the way displaced Syrians are seen by the international community.”

@MD_Hosini, from SACD diplomatic outreach team, participated today in a panel discussion organized by @CarnegieMEC & here’s a🧵of most important points he made:

Syrians have been dehumanized for years by #Russia, #Iran and Assad regime, resulting in disastrous outcomes. While at the same time, the world froze, preventing necessary & sustainable solutions, based on our rights which are supposed to be universal, from being implemented. 2/

Yet we have seen how swiftly such solutions have been put into action immediately in #Ukraine, but in the case of #Syria, we are still suffering and very far from it. 3/

The crisis in #Syria has been dealt with so far by focusing on the consequences rather than the root causes, with a lack of a comprehensive view and genuine intention to intervene for the benefit of people's rights, as we saw in the case of #Ukraine. 4/

To begin with, the attempts to normalize the regime who's responsible, with his allies, for the destruction of cities, forced depopulation and demographic changes in many parts of #Syria, will surely put an end to any hope of the displaced returning in the way we aim. 5/

These steps are not aimed at normalizing the remaining parts of the regime in Syria; rather, they are aimed at normalizing #Russia's gains and presence in #Syria and making Russia’s military victory over Syrian civilians real and stable for decades. 6/

This is the same #Russia that is currently destroying #Mariupol and other cities in #Ukraine, just as it has been doing with many major cities and towns in #Syria for years, with no genuine effort by anyone to stop it. 7/

Secondly, some host countries approach the issue of return from their own perspectives, based on incorrect assessments and internal politics that put more pressure on the displaced #Syrians and lead to premature return in some cases. 8/

#Denmark withdrew protection from refugees originally from Damascus & its suburbs, despite all reports stating there's no safe area in #Syria. Yet Danish authorities didn't amend the policy, even though it violates EU regulations & is in line with #Russia's interests in Syria. 9/

Instead, #Denmark plans to expand this assessment to other areas of #Syria. The situation in #Turkey is also worrying as pressure on refugees rises day by day due to internal political issues. #Lebanon as well attempted to push refugees to return to unsafe Syria in many ways. 10/

There's currently no comprehensive political solution that includes rights of displaced #Syrians. Unfortunately, the political discourse is ineffective with its focus on complementary issues such as constitutional committee or on fruitless ways such as step-by-step approach. 11/

These situations and issues will lead to the consolidation of displacements both inside and outside of #Syria, reducing the possibility of real safe, voluntary, and dignified return over time. 12/

If we want to go through the direct causes and the reality on the ground, we can easily find that as we are talking about the possibility of returning to #Syria, the reports about fleeing the country and continuous waves of displacement are still going on. 13/

This is primarily because the conditions which caused the displacements are still in place where #Assad regime continues to repress the areas it controls. One of the major concerns preventing #Syrians from returning are related to security, far more than any other reason. 14/

In a survey with 1100 #Syrians outside the regime areas in 2020, 84% of the people interviewed in this survey said that compulsory recruitment into #Assad regime’s army is a major obstacle to return. 15/ syacd.org/we-are-syria/

Security reasons were the most prominent causes for Syrians leaving their homes since 2012, with 98% of them leaving that year because with threat of their safety and security being the reason behind their escape. 16/

Practices like arbitrary and illegal detention, kidnapping and enforced disappearance, and financial extortion continue to this day in all areas under #Assad control in #Syria. 17/

The Syrian regime & #Russia promoted “reconciliation agreements” as models for return of displaced Syrians. Today, we can clearly see that these agreements have completely failed to protect or secure basic living conditions like that in #Daraa. 18/ syacd.org/did-daraa-mark…

Last year, SACD interviewed 500 people living inside #Assad regime’s areas to provide us with an insight into the security and living reality, underlining the continued security and livelihood deterioration and the increase in corruption. 19/ syacd.org/normalisation-…

#Syria, under rule of Assad, Russia & Iran, has become a hub for drug trade militias which not just threatens the lives of Syrians but also destabilizes the whole region. This surely will prevent any kind of real voluntary and dignified return in the eyes of the displaced. 20/

And now, there's one thing about which there cannot be any debate: We, the displaced, have the right to return to our homes in #Syria without fear of persecution, harassment or denigration based on race, religious affiliation, political leaning, or any other reason. 21/

And after holding long and detailed discussions with Syrian and international experts, collecting data about reality in Syria and studying examples of other countries which experienced massive displacement and destructive wars similar to what is happening in #Syria... 22/

The @SyrianACD is about to publish a position paper that will translate all efforts listed above into a legal, detailed position that will aid in defining the safe environment as a reality in #Syria. 23/

And providing all key actors with a roadmap on how to do it step by step, where the required measures and changes will be implemented before, during, and after the return. 24/

Finally, as we discuss reshaping the political solution, there's an important point to consider: the role of key actors on Syrian soil must be reassessed. As Syrians have seen disastrous consequences of Russian intervention for years, it's time to redefine #Russia's role. 25/

It is unacceptable for #Russia to be seen as a guarantor in #Syria while also being viewed as a war criminal in #Ukraine, where it is engaging in the same brutal and disastrous behavior in both. Russia can never be a guarantor of any peace or return process in Syria. 26/26