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The Syrian Observatory: Funded By The Foreign Office
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http://dissidentvoice.org/2018/06/the-syrian-observatory-funded-by-the-foreign-officeDate Written: 2018-06-04 Publisher: Dissident Voice Year Published: 2018 Resource Type: Article Cx Number: CX22936 The UK funded a project worth £194,769.60 to provide the 'Syrian Observatory for Human Rights' with communications equipment and cameras. Abstract: - Excerpt: In 2011, Reuters reported that Rami Abdulrahman is 'the fast-talking director of arguably Syria's most high-profile human rights group', SOHR: When he isn't fielding calls from international media, Abdulrahman is a few minutes down the road at his clothes shop, which he runs with his wife. Given the tinpot nature of the organisation, SOHR's influence is astonishing: Cited by virtually every major news outlet since an uprising against the iron rule of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad began in March, the observatory has been a key source of news on the events in Syria. Described by Reuters as an 'opposition group', SOHR is openly pro-regime change: After three short spells in prison in Syria for pro-democracy activism, Abdulrahman came to Britain in 2000 fearing a longer, fourth jail term. "I came to Britain the day Hafez al-Assad died, and I’'ll return when Bashar al-Assad goes". In December 2011, Stratfor, an influential research institute formed of former US security officials, cautioned: Most of the [Syrian] opposition's more serious claims have turned out to be grossly exaggerated or simply untrue … revealing more about the opposition’s weaknesses than the level of instability inside the Syrian regime. Subject Headings |