AMSTERDAM, Netherlands – From singers giving benefit concerts to activists organizing rallies and lobbying Dutch officials, Syrians in the Netherlands have been doing their bit to support the two-year uprising back home against the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Although Syrian communities in different parts of Holland differ in their views toward developments and the escalation of violence across Syria, they are unified over a democratic and pluralistic Syria, each supporting the pro-democracy revolution in its own way.
Rader Abdulfattah, a Syrian Kurdish activist and member of the Syrian Supporting Committee in the Netherlands (SYNL), has participated in different activities in support of the revolution.
“Apart from demonstrations we organized here, our first project was the ‘Jassmeinplein’ –Jasmine Square – project, where we founded a Syrian ‘Tahrir Square’ in Rotterdam,” Abdulfattah told Rudaw, saying the spot became a gathering point for Syrians and Dutch supporters. “It simply became a center for the Syrian revolution in Holland.”
One of the SYNL’s main objectives has been to hold intensive contacts with the Dutch government. “Basically, we’re constantly trying to push the Dutch government to provide all sorts of support to activists in Syria as well as humanitarian aid to refugees,” Abdulfattah said.
The committee has also organized collection and donation campaigns, and has so far sent four containers of clothes and humanitarian aid back home, Abdulfattah added. “We’ll put all our efforts to continue with this project because of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria and the urgent need for this aid,” he added.
Abdulfattah has also participated in volunteer work in Syrian refugee camps in Turkey. “This remarkably changed the way I used to think of the Syrian uprising. I still have contacts with many people I met there and I try to support them from the Netherlands,” he said.
Gharib, a Syrian musician who left his hometown of Aleppo 20 years ago and moved to the Netherlands to enjoy greater freedom, has written four songs dedicated to the uprising. His well-known song, Do Not Hide Your Face from Us (Antom Aein), is an appeal for aid from the international community.
“I couldn’t merely follow the developments in Syria and do nothing, so I composed my song Antom Aein, which is directed to people around the world,” Gharib said.
Recently, Gharib organized five benefit concerts in the Netherlands to support the Syrian people. “I collected some money through the benefit concerts, and sent this to the Syrian refugee camps in southern Syria, and I will continue with my efforts until the Syrian people grant their legitimate rights and reach their aspirations,” he said.
Soyar Saeed, a member of the representative committee of the Kurdish National Council (KNC) in the Netherlands, has participated in several pro-uprising activities over the past two years.
“The banners and slogans raised by the anti-regime demonstrators since the early days of the Syrian revolution moved the Syrians in the diaspora,” Saeed told Rudaw. “I didn’t hesitate to participate in organizing protests in Holland and other European countries to support the demands of the Syrian people because it represented all Syrians, regardless of their ethnic or religious affiliation.”
Saeed also played a role in the establishment of the Syrian Supporting Committee in the Netherlands.
“We have continuously arranged meetings with Dutch politicians to discuss the possibility of providing different kinds of support to the Syrian people, including humanitarian aid to refugees,” Saeed added. “Fortunately, our efforts were considerably fruitful, and we could provide remarkable humanitarian aid and political support to the Syrian cause,” he said.
Saeed expressed regret at the escalation of violence in Syria.
“Unfortunately, the recent developments in Syria indicate that the country has apparently turned into an arena for conflicts between some international and regional powers,” he said. “But we still believe that the unparalleled will of the Syrian people will help overcome the chaos and all current obstacles,” he added. “A democratic change seems an inevitable destiny in the near future.”
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