Syria: Mass Arrests In Effort To Stop Protests
Syrian security forces Monday arrested about 180 people in the north of Damascus, and granted the people who “act contrary to law” 15 days to turn themselves in. Meanwhile, opponents called to hold demonstrations of solidarity with the besieged southern city of Dara’a.
In Damascus, the security forces dispersed the gathering of 150 women in support of Dara’a. On Monday evening, the Syrian army confirmed the continuation of a crackdown against members of “terrorist groups” in Dara’a, pointing out “to the discovery of large quantities of weapons and ammunition in several places in the city.”
The regime has accused the “extremist terrorist groups” of being behind the violence.
According to the Facebook page which leads the protests – “Syria Revolution 2011” – the Syrian security forces entered the early Monday Kafr Nabul, located some 320 km north of Damascus, searched houses and arrested 26 people.
Also, security forces operated in Zabadani and Madaia some 40 km northwest of the capital, where they arrested 147 people, according to human rights organization. The organization added that “the detainees were beaten and humiliated in front of their families while mobile phones and laptops were confiscated.”
The Syrian security forces launched Sunday a campaign of arrests in a number of Syrian cities, especially in Dara’a and Douma, Latakia and Qamishli and arrested at least 365 people, according to an activist who declined to be identified.
