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Following are excerpts from an interview with Abd Al-Bari 'Atwan, editor-in-chief of Al-Quds Al-Arabi, which aired on ANB TV on June 24, 2011:
Abd Al-Bari 'Atwan: The people [in Syria] have been living for 40 years under the control of the Syrian security agencies. For 40 years, the people's self-dignity and pride have been shattered. They see the extent of the suffering and the inequality, and how much corruption has spread in Syria. As we have said earlier, the regime and even Bashar Al-Assad have admitted this. They are breaking the Syrian citizens.
Let me tell you something personal. Brother, what is the desire of every human being on earth? Every person living in a foreign country – whether in the Gulf states or in Europe – has the desire to return to his country. He wants to spend his annual vacation with his family in his country. Our countries are beautiful, the beaches are beautiful, and its fruits are lovely – especially in the north.
The Syrian citizens are the exception. They are afraid to go there because the intelligence agencies are waiting for them. The Syrians, especially, are terrified. Before a Syrian goes to Syria, he is afraid – he is afraid of being hassled at the airport, he is afraid of the security agencies, he is afraid of being taken to the Far' Falastin prison. It's a problem.
Many journalist friends of mine call me and say: "Abd Al-Bari, we are going to Syria. If anything happens to us, please don't forget us." My God, why does he have to be afraid when he goes there? I ask if they wrote or said anything, but they say: "By God, no, but who knows what they are going to come up with at the airport?" That's how people talk.
Why do people live in fear in our countries? Why are people judged for their thoughts and intentions, or because they criticized a minister at a private meeting? People are fed up with this. They can't stand it anymore.
In Syria or in any Arab country, you need permission from the security agencies if you want to get married, if you want to open a shop, or if you want to buy a home. Does this make any sense? It is inconceivable that the security agencies are involved in every detail of our lives, large or small.
The people have the right to say: "No, we're fed up. If you want to shoot me, shoot me. I don't want to be a living dead. Instead of killing me in installments, kill me in one go.
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