US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has voiced her support for the Syrian people, as they commemorate the eighth anniversary of the uprising against Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Rep. Omar sent out a message on Saturday on Twitter stating her backing of Syrians, coinciding with the eight anniversary of the revolution, which began on 15 March 2011.
“The people of Syria revolted against Assad’s repressive dictatorship 8 years ago today, demanding a more just and free government. Peace loving people around the world stand in solidarity with them in this struggle!”
Syrians across the world on Friday and Saturday held demonstrations to show their continued support for the struggle against Assad.
Demonstrations calling for reforms in cities across Syrian began in 2011, until they were brutally suppressed by the regime sparking a wider uprising following mass defections from the military.
Eight years on, Assad has managed to win back much of Syria from the rebels due to Russian and Iranian military support, although the opposition still hold onto the northwest, while US-backed Kurdish forces control much of northern and eastern Syria.
At least 370,000 have been killed in the war, following waves of regime bombing and shelling, with some monitors putting the figure at 500,000.
Ilhan Omar was one of the first Muslim women to be elected to Congress last year. Omar fled Somalia’s civil war with her parents at the age of eight and spent four years at a refugee camp in Kenya.
Syrians on Twitter have welcomed Omar’s tweet.”Thank you Ilhan Omar. Revolution until victory Free Syria. The Syrian revolution continues until the overthrow of the Assad regime, which seized control of Syria in a military coup in 1970 and continues to rule Syria by force and terrorism,” wrote on Syrian on Twitter.
