Events of March 2011

This page was created to explore the details about the starting of the events leading up to the dire situation two years later. The "birthday of the revolution" is generally dated March 15, 2011. The general story goes like this:


 * The events  were  triggered  primarily  by  the  children  of  Deraa  scandal.  A  first demonstration took place in front of the mosque in the city centre. Children wrote tags on the walls criticizing the regime and demanding the withdrawal of the governor. They were  immediately  arrested  and  tortured (finger  nails  pulled  out,  etc.).  Three  of  the children were killed. When their parents came to demand their release, the governor told them: « All you have to do is have more children. And if you are not capable, bring your women here and we will do it ourselves ». Publicly humiliated, the parents called on tribal  leaders  who  organised  demonstrations  in  front  of  the  governor’s  palace.  The protests quickly turned violent. The governor of Deraa was later dismissed by Bachar al Assad, who met with the relatives of the victims.

The significant violent events which triggered protests in other cities are said to have taken place March 22-24 in Dara'a. President Assad has repeatedly claimed in interviews that there have been unidentified snipers at those events who targeted both protesters and police forces.