“Leave us. Leave us, Bashar al-Assad. Our freedom is not for you,” chanted hundreds of protesters who gathered around the Human Rights Monument Saturday demanding an end to the dictator’s regime in Syria.
The protest comes three days after Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird called on Canadians in Syria to take commercial flights out of the country, which was followed by a rebel attack on a Syrian military base and France’s recall of its ambassador.
“We’re here to support the Syrian people,” said Abdullah Al-Haj, co-organizer and member of the Syrian Canadian Council. “Simply, we want to bring down the Assad regime. It’s been in power for 40 years. It’s illegitimate.”
Since the uprisings began in February 2011, Human Rights Watch has reported evidence of crimes against humanity, including torture and unlawful killings by security forces. The death toll from the eight-month uprising has reached 3,500, the UN reported.
“We want the Canadian government to recognize the Syrian National Council as the legitimate and only representative of the people. We call on Canada to expel the Syrian ambassador and for Canada to call back its ambassador in Syria. Only this will alienate the regime,” Al-Haj said.
At 2:45 p.m. protesters unraveled a giant Syrian flag and held it over the stairs at the monument on Elgin Street while they chanted.
Some people had the flag painted on their face. Others had their faces completely covered with ski masks and winter scarves, out of fear that regime supporters would spot them and report them to officials in Syria, threatening family and friends still living in the country.
Black, green and white, matching the colours of the flag, were the dominant colours worn by protesters.
“The fear is real,” Al-Haj said, pointing down the street to the Syrian Embassy on Cartier Street.
Holding a sign in his hand that said “The Syrian Ambassador is a spy,” Sam Al-Sayed stood among the protesters.
“I’m standing up for my people in Syria,” he said. “Something is seriously wrong and something urgently has to be done by the international community. Not today, but yesterday.”
Referring to his sign, Al-Sayed said the embassy spies on the community in Canada. He said it uses intelligence to pressure people outside of Syria and discourage them from taking part in activities that undermine the regime such as protesting.
“I’m here to tell the world we will never stop,” said Noor Ayash, a Syrian who came to Canada last year. “I’m standing with our people. The killing is increasing. This doesn’t just involve Syrians. It involves everybody in the world. We all need to stand together.”
On Wednesday, the Arab League confirmed the suspension of Syria from the organization. It gave the government three days to stop the violence and accept an observer mission or face economic sanctions.