The Future of Syria – Group Discussions in Mafraq, Amman and Za'atari, 24th to 28th of February 2019

How do you feel regarding/ how do you see the current situation of Syria?

Women in Mafraq (FGD 1) and Amman (additional elements):

-Pain, concerns, sadness, fear, lack of hope for the future of the country, violence (e.g: kids killed in front of their parents), no security guarantees, daughters were given to foreigners

-Concerns regarding their family members that stayed, the lack for working opportunities, of education and housing (law passed that if they do not go back in 6 months to prove it is their home then the house will become the property of the government

-  Fear of military conscription, that has no limit anymore (legally speaking)

-But also the wish to keep fighting and to keep some “minor” hope while following the situation from outside, and the wish to transform the “weakness” into “strengths”.

-Nostalgia of the past: country was a paradise before the war, now everything has changed, the people and the country.

-Wish to reunite the families: a lot of the families are split up in different countries and it has been years since they have not seen them

-What is said in the news and social media showing Syria and Damascus as safe places are lies : there is no electricity and lack of water& food, streets are empty, people feel watched and are feared to talk, also over the phone because of “security services”.

* Political considerations: the neighbours countries have destroyed Syria, such as “Shia Lebanese”.

1. How do you see the future of Syria?

Women in Mafraq:

-General lack of hope: no safety, stability, security, No job perspective, no money, no housing for some

-The situation won’t change if the same people stay in power, the land has to be given back to the people. But fear that even if Assad goes the Alawites will take the power and nothing will change

-  + various militias prevent the return to security: incapacity of the government to ensure protection from these “outside” marginal militias/gangs/sectarian organisations 

-The weapons have to be all get off the country

-  Syria has to get rid of the dictatorship system, the new generations have to understand there are other models possible and learn about human rights that were denied to their generation.

2. How do you see your role / the role of Syrian refugees in the future of Syria?

Do you think you cold use your “experience” of living out of Syria? What would you do if the situation was better and you could return?

Women in Mafraq and in Amman:

-  Willing to work, open businesses, use the skills women have learned because their husband were not there (had to join the army, killed, stayed in Syria, etc). There is also more women than men now, so there is the wish from women to work more outside the house than they used to, such as in organisations and help in reconstructing Syria, first in safer zones (e.g. Jordan border), even if there are still black traffic issues etc., and then little by little extend to the other zones. (interpretation: wish to see more empowerment of women in the reconstruction of the country).

-     ??? (to be confirmed): wish to set in place psychologic centres to help in traumatism of the war, the bombings, killings, massacres and other atrocities, especially for children. There are some in Jordan but not in Syria.

-  Want the have a Syria more open to religious freedom and family model like in Jordan for example which is a country more open in that regards.

3. Imagine that the conflict in Syria comes to an end… What does it take for reconciliation to be possible?

How do you feel when thinking about the possibility of being back in your home town/home community?

Women in Mafraq and in Amman

- more sceptical about the social cohesion post-conflict: lack of trust, lack of solidarity (in comparison to before) as the situation is so desperate that the needs of money is what drives people, even if takes to “betrayed” their friends/neighbours, even in the camps there is spying activities.

It will take years for the country to heal and to come back to what it was if the situation allow it, as too many horrible things have happened.

+ increase in sectarian/religious/identity conflicts than it used to be before the crisis, people are increasingly identifying themselves according to their religious affiliation. Today according to what is your religious affiliation you got arrested. People are forced (either directly or indirectly in consideration for their family etc) to change their ideas and believes  in order to become Shia.

>< other opinion: people think less about identity than at the beginning of the crisis as the situation has become to desperate in terms of basics needs that the latter come first.

But everybody, from all the religious sides and even people within the government have suffered, the war has impacted everybody.

ð  And there is the need to work hand in hand to rebuild the country despite past issues, and everybody want to return to rebuild the country. They will take few years to rebuild social cohesion, the reconciliation will follow more quickly than rebuilding the country in terms of security and rebuilding of houses etc. Before the war they coexisted together with all different sects and religions. The Syrian people is good and general opinion that they will focus on reconciliation rather than revenge. They want everybody to be respected and equal, because they know that revenge will only lead to another war. But for that all weapons have to get out of the country to make sure everybody is equal.

4. Do you ever think about / could you imagine yourself returning to Syria before the conflict comes to an end? Why?

Women in Mafraq:  

-       yes because:

·hard living conditions in neighbouring countries (no job, hope for future, difficult access to education ,etc.). the basics needs are covered but there is no opportunity and possibility of future in Jordan, specially for the kids that do not have access to education

-       no because:

·  military conscription of their children and husband, even if some have already served

·risk of prison, exposition to persecution, kidnapping and general security issues, still registered as “wanted people”, either directly or through their family: + the risk to come back is to be taken in hostage to force children coming back.

·  no work opportunities, no basic incomes and no mean to rebuild the houses

·really bad living conditions of Syrian that stayed in the country, without gas, electricity, food & water, lot of pain and fear, no money to live and impression that if the borders would be open everybody would leave the country. Impression that usually people that have returned regret it and that the ones who stayed want to leave.

·  Organ black trade is rising

·  Why going back when there is nothing to return?

What if the conflict was finished?

Women in Mafraq: All want to return if the security situation was good enough, the security issue being the first preoccupation.

In case of a negative answer, what alternatives are you and others considering?

Women and men in Mafraq:

One think that the country is completely destructed and that she will never return.

-       Some alternatives considered:

• Staying in Jordan or another Arabic country for cultural reasons and because of the proximity to Syria.

• Going to western countries (Europe, US, Canada): mostly for the children education, economic conditions and work opportunities. + even if really grateful towards Jordanian, feeling of being pressured in Jordan because the economic issues/pressure is increasing, feeling to not be welcomed anymore in Jordan.

ð  Division even within families about that point, husbands are more willing to return usually.

* Usually the youth (children of participants) are more willing to go abroad because of education and work opportunities perceived as higher abroad.

* Also wish to reunite the families that for some are spread over the world (members in different countries).

Message to address to foreign countries?

Women in Mafraq and Amman:

- The Syrian civilisation is a great civilisation, they are very proud of their culture and want the rest of the world to make the distinction between the war in Syria and the Syrians.

- They wish to be able to work, to have their business, to drive and be treated as people capable of these things, as anyone else, in other countries.

-They call for help for rebuilding their country and allow their children to go to school.

- The foreigners  and foreign militias have to leave and all the weapons have to get out of the country, like this no one would be able to have more power than others.

- They need help in getting the dictator out of the country and he has to be judged in an international court for his crimes.

-  Propaganda of the media showing that Syria is better is just lies.