Syrian Civil War 2011-2012 - Societa italiana di storia militare

gunfire in Daraa. [98] Syria freed writer Louai Hussein, who was detained earlier this week for posting a petition online demanding the
right to freedom of expression [99]
25 March – "Friday of Glory" After new online calls to a big demonstration called "Friday of Glory" (Arabic: جمعة العزة ) after
Friday prayers, tens of thousands took to the streets in protest around the nation, defying a state that has once again demonstrated its
willingness to use lethal force. Military troops opened fire during protests in the southern part of Syria and killed peaceful
demonstrators, according to witnesses and news reports, hurtling the strategically important nation into turmoil. [100] There were reports
that at least 20 people were killed in uprising in Daraa which drew over 100,000 people. [101][102] A witness said that thousands of
people chanted against the president's brother: "Maher you coward. Send your troops to liberate the Golan," [103] A statue of Hafez al-
Assad was dismantled and set on fire. [104] The governor's home was also set on fire. [104] There were also reports of protests in
Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Homs, Latakia and Raqqa. [101][105] There were reports that one demonstrator had been shot dead by security
forces in Latakia and another had been killed in Homs. [106]
There were reports that dozens of protesters had died across the
country. [107] A witness said that in Sanamayn, security forces killed 20 people. [105][108] The official Syrian news agency said that an
"armed gang" had attacked army headquarters there, that "resulted in the deaths of several attackers." [109] The death of a civilian in
Homs was blamed on an "armed group". [109] Most chants called for solidarity with Daraa and with the people killed there, for freedom,
and against regime corruption. [110] In Tafas, 3 protesters were killed by security forces. [104] In Kafr Amim, Idlib there was a fire at the
Baath Party headquarters. [111] The Sunni cleric Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi gave a sermon in Qatar in which he stated: "Today the train
of revolution has arrived at a station that it was destined to reach, the Syrian station. It isn't possible for Syria to detach itself from the
history of the Arab nation." [112] Also Syrian Salafi Sunni cleric Sheikh Adnan al-Arour advised the youth of the revolution to follow
the Egyptian example and endure violence without responding in kind. He voiced hope that the president will intervene and form a
dialogue committee to address legitimate grievances. [113] AFP reported that Syrian opposition leaders-in-exile called in Paris for the
downfall of President Bashar al-Assad, asking France to maintain pressure on the Syrian leader to "halt the killing of innocents." [111] A
YouTube video showed protesters packed into Ar-Rifai mosque in Damascus and chanting “God, Syria, and freedom alone.”. [114] A
leaked YouTube video purportedly filmed in the Syrian city of Homs shows security forces changing outfits to look like civilians in
order to provoke anti-regime protesters, reports have said. [115] 17 people were killed in demonstration on way to Daraa, while 40 were
killed near Omari Mosque, 25 died in al-Sanameen in Homs, 4 in Latakia, 3 in Damascus. [111]
26 March 200 political prisoners were released. [116] In the cities of Latakia and Tafas, Baath party buildings and police stations were
set on fire. [104] Armed gangs were blamed by the authorities for attempting to destabilize the country. [117] The Syrian Arab News
Agency (SANA), the government controlled news agency, claimed that an armed group seized rooftops in many areas in Latakia,
opening fire on citizens and security forces personnel. [118] Two people were killed, and thousands more protested in Daraa. [104] Two
US citizens were reported to be in the custody of Syrian authorities. Mohammed Radwan, 32, a dual citizen of the US and Egypt, and
Pathik "Tik" Root, 21, a student at Middlebury College in Vermont, were said to have been detained for involvement in antigovernment
uprising. [119] The Grand Mufti of Syria, Ahmad Bader Hassoun, said "Any citizen has the right to protest and call for
freedom, but I will tell you, all those behind the bloodshed will be penalized. There are no army officials who opened fire at
protesters, they only retaliated out of self-defense. After what happened, there should be reconciliation between the people. There are
some corrupters in the country and the corrupters should be penalized". [120] As a result of what happened in Homs on Friday, Iyad
Ghazal, the governor of Homs was dismissed from his post.
27 March Syrian officials reported that 12 people were killed in Latakia. [121] An Al Jazeera clip on YouTube records the imam of the
Ar-Rahman Mosque in Latakia telling an Al Jazeera broadcaster that a massacre is occurring in the city. [122] Buthaina Shaaban, the
president's media adviser, stated that the emergency law would be lifted, without giving any indication of when that will be. [123] She
also said that the President will appear publicly to address the Syrians and to give official statements of the steps that will be taken by
the government. The Reuters news agency reported that two of its journalists are missing. They were last heard of from the night
before, when they were expected to cross into Lebanon from Syria. [124] Journalists Sobhi Hasan and Zaher Alamin were rearrested. [125]
28 March The Reuters news agency reported that its two missing journalists, both Lebanese nationals, had been in the custody of
Syrian authorities since 26 March, but were released and they had returned to Lebanon. [126] Kuwaiti Sheikh Nabeel al-Awadi [127] and
Syrian Sheikh Issam al-Attar [128] showed their support for Syrian anti-regime uprising.
29 March Hundreds of thousands demonstrated in support of President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, Aleppo, Hasaka, Homs,
Tartous and Hama. [129][130][131] The Syrian newspaper Al-Watan reported that a major cabinet reshuffle was coming, [131] and later that
day, President Assad accepted the official resignation of the government led by Muhammad Naji al-Otari, while the latter will serve
as caretaker prime minister until a new government is selected and officially announced. [132] Syrian actor Jamal Suliman announced
via BBC that Syrian artists released a statement regarding the ongoing uprising. The artists voiced the importance of "implementing
reforms" and the artists’ willingness to "stand by the political system in a serious and reform journey" as well as standing with the
people. [133]
30 March It was reported that Ayat Basma and Ezzat Baltaji two Reuters journalists had gone missing near Damascus. [134] President
Assad made a speech blaming foreign conspirators for the cause of the uprising and declaring that the emergency law will not be
lifted as previously confirmed by Shaaban and instead the lift will be put to studies for future application. [135] A YouTube video of a
CNN report shows Syrian State television footage of a woman allegedly attacking Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s car following
his speech on Wednesday. [136] Disappointed by the president's speech, protesters took to the street in Latakia, where they were fired on
by police. [137][138] Mass protests in Daraa to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime following his speech and reports of
five new deaths and total of 200 "martyrs" in Daraa since uprising started. The investigative judge in Damascus refused to release the
activist Suhair Attasi and four others. [139]
31 March Two more Reuters journalists Suleiman al-Khalidi and Khaled al-Hariri disappeared in Syria. [140] Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad established a commission to study the termination of the emergency law in his country. [141] Syrian Arab News Agency
(SANA) reported that President al-Assad issued a decree raising the wages of state employees. The decision will go into effect as of 1
April. [142] A London-based rights group close to the Muslim Brotherhood said Thursday 25 people were killed by security forces in
Latakia, northwest of the country, in a "bloodbath." [143] April 2011