In Syria, the regime exploits everything and now, with the new Corona Virus at our doorstep, Assad is exploiting that too while at the same time denying the existence of infected cases in Syria.
Assad said that he was issuing a general amnesty in order to remove the detainees from prisons but It was not true. The amnesty decision was a media lie to try and polish the regime’s image to the outside world.
Another example of exploiting the pandemic using lies was when the Syrian Minister of Health, Al-Yaziji, stated that the Syrian army has cleared the country of germs and viruses in most Syrian cities. What??!!
Fortunately, the response most everywhere has been to rely on science and to take proper precautions.
Despite the presence of large numbers of injured people in the suburbs of Damascus and the countryside of Sayyida Zeinab and Jaramana with large spreading of the virus being discovered, the Syrian regime continues to deny everything related to this horrific epidemic. Interestingly, these infected areas are largely inhabited by the Shiite Iranian militias and the Lebanese Hezbollah.
These areas have been completely quarantined and people are prevented from entering and leaving altogether. This indicates the significant presence of the virus and the widening spread of it.
A doctor, whose name I cannot mention, has said that there is an order from the Syrian regime not to authorize any death due to the Corona Virus and to simply list the causes of deaths under the name of other diseases.
At the same time all this is going on there is news from here and there that indicates an isolating of Assad inside Syria. In certain political circles there is a fear of his lack of credibility with the International Community. There is no confidence in anything at all. Everyone is waiting and watching silently for radical changes in State agencies and sensitive positions in the Assad regime. Most of the officers and officials of the Alawite sect show exclusive loyalty to their President but in the streets, towns and villages across Syria the average citizen no longer has any confidence in Assad or his survival as the government leader.
Everyday people witness the economy tanking, out of control inflation with the value of the Syrian pound sinking and it becoming harder and harder to purchase basic necessities, with bread, fuel and staple foodstuffs being the biggest concerns.
If a Syrian citizen wants to buy a kilo of sugar, he must stand for several hours in front of the sale halls. It is impossible to object to anything and all the while there almost complete lawlessness in areas under regime control. Armed robbery incidents, banditry, looting and killing is all met with the Syrian regime turning a blind eye. Criminals are running free to do as they please and it is criminals who rule the country.
The Syrian author of this article wishes to remain anonymous to protect his identity
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