Al-Araby al-Jadid, London, April 22
We’ve all heard of the right of return of the Palestinian people to their native homeland. We’ve discussed this issue at length, and even proposed policies—some better than others—to deal with the ongoing displacement of Palestinian refugees since 1948. What we have completely overlooked, however, is another right of return: namely, that of Syrian refugees. With over 7 million civilians forced from their homes since the beginning of the war, an entirely new population of displaced persons has emerged in the Middle East. Like their Palestinian brethren, Syrian refugees were also forced to flee from the brutality of the regime under which they lived. An academic symposium held in Jordan last week tried to address this cruel reality by focusing on the displacement of Syrian refugees in recent years. The various speakers outlined the inhumane policies of Bashar al-Assad, who has allowed lands left by those who fled to be taken over by gangs and armed militias. In other words, displaced Syrians have, quite literally, nowhere to return to. Even if the situation in the country improves, these men, women and children have lost their claim to their very own homes. Syria is also witnessing a sectarian re-engineering of the country, with entire populations wiped off the face of earth as new borders are drawn along ethnic and religious lines. Al-Assad has been quoted saying that although Syria lost millions of people in the war, at least it has been left with a homogeneous society of Alawites and their loyalists. Those who fled Syria are not wanted back as they are viewed as traitors. It is hard to imagine a situation in which millions of displaced people lack the fundamental right to return to their homes. This is going to be the defining issue for generations of Syrians to come. –Muahmmad Abu Rahman