As a Syrian myself, I can tell you that the issues surrounding the Syrian conflict are much more complex than what is reported by Western media. The West continues to view the conflict as a clash between Bashar Al Assad who terrorizes his people and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) which supposedly represents freedom and democracy for the Syrian people.

I will argue that the West’s portrayal of the FSA as a force of freedom is far from the truth and here’s why:

In Aleppo, the FSA have reportedly looted wheat warehouses belonging to residents and sold them to private Turkish grain traders, confiscated stocks of pharmaceuticals and forcibly resold them back to their owners, targeted hospitals and arrested patients under care, and plundered numerous schools. [1] In addition, they have been reported as having destroyed infrastructure, which resulted in damaged homes and a knock out of power for many Syrian citizens. This is a mere example of how the FSA has been acting as a force that opposes Syrian citizens rather than a force that protects their liberty. [3]

The FSA has also proven itself to be a blatant violator of human rights. These violations include executions and the torture of captured enemy troops as well as suspected collaborators of the Assad regime. There are numerous clips of the FSA laughing at mutilated bodies of Syrian soldiers, chanting anti-Christian and anti-Alawite slogans, beheading civilians and chanting anti-government slogans, staging and faking massacres/wounds, and the list goes on. [5] The FSA has also reportedly targeted journalists. For example, on August 10th 2012 in Al-Tal an Al-Ikhbariya news correspondent Yara Saleh and her camera crew team of Abdulla Tabreh, Hussam Imad, and Hatem Abu Yehya were all abducted at gun point while on assignment in Al-Tal. If the FSA was truly a force of freedom and democracy they would not commit such criminal violations of human rights, neither would they attack the freedom of press which is considered a pillar of a democratic society in the West [4]

According to the Human Rights Watch (HRW), the FSA has recruited boys as young as 10 years old. The boys are used as informants, guards, transporters of food and weapon supplies and at times are placed in full combat roles. The Syrian Centre for the Documentation of Violation (VDC) has documented many deaths of children who work with the FSA. Others are wounded, maimed, disabled, and suffering mental disorders, says HRW. The recruitment of child soldiers under the age of 18 in combat is prohibited by international law and is further evidence of the FSA’s undemocratic behavior. [5]

There is also evidence of the FSA’s alliance with Al Qaida. In areas under the control of the FSA, the FSA has implemented Sharia law where citizens are forced to abide by the Sharia code. The FSA implements this through its alliance with the Al Nusra Front and ISIS. The goal of these Islamists is to replace the current Syrian regime with an Islamic state ruled under strict interpretation of Sharia Law not with freedom or democracy. [5] The FSA’s controlled areas in Syria are a representation of what may happen if the FSA takes control- Syria may become an Islamic state. This is further evidence of why the FSA is not a force of freedom and democracy for Syrians.

*For more information on the FSA’s alliance with Islamist Militant groups check:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/freedom-fighters-cannibals-the-truth-about-syrias-rebels-8662618.html [6]

*For evidence of FSA atrocities view the videos and photographs in the following links:

–WARNING: Viewer Discretion is advised–

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/348745 [4]

http://www.infowars.com/shocking-videos-reveal-truth-behind-syrian-freedom-fighters [5]

“For some strange reason, the western media and many western governments are choosing to turn a blind eye to some of the more unsavory aspects of the FSA, which are blatantly in direct opposition to their own stated policies and values. Why remains a mystery — particularly given the stakes at hand and how the ‘revolutions’ in Egypt and Libya have turned out. The West should not be surprised if an Islamic state were to result from an FSA victory.” says Daniel Wagner [3]

The continued support of the FSA by Western media is not only destructive to the rule of law but destructive to the Syrian civilians that have become victims of the FSA.  The West’s portrayal of the FSA as a force of freedom is far from the truth and their virtually ignored massacres, beheadings, and other acts of brutality are evidence of this.

References:

[1] http://www.mapaction.org/component/mapcat/download/2925.html?fmt=pdf 

[2] http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/propaganda-truth-and-lies-syria-ns-125065 

[3] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-wagner/the-dangers-of-providing-_b_3443615.html (3)

[4] http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/348745 

[5] http://www.infowars.com/shocking-videos-reveal-truth-behind-syrian-freedom-fighters/ 

[6] http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/freedom-fighters-cannibals-the-truth-about-syrias-rebels-8662618.html