Human Rights and Freedom in Syria

Syria Syrian Arab Republic [Country Profile Page]
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	159th best
Location	Asia, The Mediterranean, The Middle East
Population	16.9m1
Life Expectancy	72.06yrs (2017)2

Syria is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Syria does better than average in speed of uptake of HR treaties₃. But that's it. Syria has problems. It does worse than average in its nominal commitment to Human Rights₄ (still high for Asia), opposing gender inequality₅ (one of the worst in Asia) and in freethought₆. It falls into the worst-performing 20 in terms of commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₇, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₈ (amongst the highest in Asia) and in supporting press freedom₉ (one of the highest in Asia). And finally, it is the worst in LGBT equality₁₀. Studies have found that nearly one in four women have been beaten by their husbands₁₁, and, far too many communities in Syria permit and practice barbaric honour killings₁₁, which in almost all cases are done by families against female kin who are perceived to have challenged male dominance. The Syrian government has "conducted deliberate and indiscriminate attacks against civilians", including "numerous chemical weapons attacks", with support of Russia and Iran₁₂. Together they have "withheld humanitarian aid, employed starvation as war tactic" and used torture on perceived enemies₁₂. Russia and China have been blocking and vetoing the United Nation's efforts to stem mass atrocities, and have prevented the International Criminal Court from starting direct investigations. Many non-state armed groups are also committing atrocities₁₂.

1. Syria's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
2. Human Rights & Tolerance
   1. Human Rights Watch Comments
   2. Nominal Commitment to HR
   3. HR Treaties Lag
   4. Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom
   5. Press Freedom
   6. Slavery
3. Gender Equality
   1. Gender Inequality
   2. Year Women Can Vote
   3. Honor Killings
4. Prejudice
   1. LGBT Equality
   2. Freedom of Thought
5. Links

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1. Syria's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

Compared to Asia (2020)13
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank13
1	Hong Kong	24.3
2	Taiwan	28.2
3	Japan	41.9
	...
41	Iraq	124.4
42	Malaysia	127.2
43	Myanmar (Burma)	128.5
44	Syria	132.9
45	Iran	133.6
46	Saudi Arabia	134.5
47=	Palestine	138.0
48	Afghanistan	140.6
49	Pakistan	141.3
	Asia Avg	99.9
q=51.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)13
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank13
1	Sweden	9.0
2	Norway	14.5
3	Denmark	14.5
	...
172	Chad	130.3
173	Palau	130.6
174	Tonga	132.6
175	Syria	132.9
176	Iran	133.6
177	Marshall Islands	134.2
178	Zimbabwe	134.3
179	Saudi Arabia	134.5
	World Avg	87.9
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Norway and Denmark₁₄. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are The Solomon Islands, Somalia and Tuvalu₁₄.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are statistics on commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₁₄, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Micronesia and Australasia₁₄.

For more, see:

• "Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

Amnesty International's 2023-23 summary on human rights in Syria stated:

“The conflict in Syria continued although hostilities decreased, while economic and social conditions deteriorated. Parties to the conflict continued to commit with impunity gross human rights abuses, serious violations of international humanitarian law and crimes under international law, including war crimes. Government forces and armed opposition groups and their allies carried out unlawful attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including water stations and displacement camps, through aerial bombing and artillery shelling in northern Syria. Government authorities, the Syrian National Army (SNA) and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (Autonomous Administration) subjected civilians to arbitrary detention, abduction and enforced disappearance. President al-Assad enacted Syria’s first anti-torture law, which failed to address impunity or provide redress to victims and families, and ratified a new cybercrime law that criminalizes online criticism of the authorities or constitution. The armed opposition group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and the Autonomous Administration continued to restrict freedom of expression and assembly. The government continued to prevent residents and internally displaced people in north west Syria from enjoying their economic and social rights, including by obstructing aid to displaced people in al-Rukban near the border with Jordan.”

"The State of the World's Human Rights 2022/23" by Amnesty International (2023)₁₅

The ongoing fight against ISIS / ISIL / Islamic State exists amidst multiple warring factions in Syria, and more than 400,000 have died since 2011. Although the Syrian government with the help of Russia, Iran and China are responsible for the worst of it, ISIS themselves are even worse, and multiple factions conduct war with no regard for civilians' safety.

“Civilian casualties from airstrikes by the US-led coalition fighting ISIS increased. [...] A number of these strikes raise concerns that the coalition failed to take necessary precautions to avoid and minimize civilian casualties. [...]

The Russian-Syrian military coalition conducted indiscriminate air attacks, including strikes on several medical facilities, and used incendiary weapons and cluster munitions. [...]

The Syrian government´s forces continued to use chemical weapons repeatedly, with nerve agents being deployed on at least four occasions since late 2016–in eastern Hama on December 11 and 12, 2016, northern Hama, on March 30, and Khan Sheikhoun on April 4”

"World Report 2018" by Human Rights Watch (2018)₁₂

“[Syria has been using] banned nerve agents such as sarin despite having supposedly relinquished all chemical weapons after its notorious August 2013 use of sarin in Eastern Ghouta. Russia offered a cover story for an April 2017 episode in the northwestern Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun–that a Syrian conventional bomb supposedly hit a rebel cache of sarin–but that theory was conclusively disproved, so Russia responded by vetoing continuation of a UN investigation.”

"World Report 2018" by Human Rights Watch (2018)₁₆

2. Human Rights & Tolerance

2.1. Human Rights Watch Comments

Human Rights Watch Comments Higher is better7
Pos.		2017 Score7
1=	UK	9
1=	France	9
1=	Germany	9
	...
116	Burundi	-10
117=	N. Korea	-10
117=	Malaysia	-10
117=	Pakistan	-10
117=	Afghanistan	-10
117=	Congo, DR	-10
117=	Saudi Arabia	-10
117=	Syria	-10
	Asia Avg	-5.0
	World Avg	-1.9
q=123.

Regarding commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, Syria ranks worst in the world.

Human Rights Watch comments concentrate mostly on negative issues, however, they also make positive comments for those countries that engage in human rights defence around the world, or who make improvements at home. By adding up positive and negative comments (including double-points for negatives that involve large scales and crimes against humanity), the Social and Moral Index turns HRW commentary into quantified values. Some countries may be unfairly penalized because HRW have not examined them, and, some countries "get away" with abuses if they manage to hide it, or if it goes unnoticed - a negative point has been given for those countries in which HRW specifically state that access to investigators has been barred. The points were limited to a minimum of -10 because there are some points at which things are so bad, with abuses affecting so many, it is difficult to be more specific about the depths of the issues.

For more, see:

• "Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2019).

2.2. Nominal Commitment to HR

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better4
Pos.		2009 Treaties4
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
118	Mauritius	14
119=	Botswana	14
119=	Madagascar	14
119=	Syria	14
119=	Sudan	14
119=	Cameroon	14
119=	Uzbekistan	14
125	Mauritania	13
	Asia Avg	12.7
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

Still high for Asia when it comes to its nominal commitment to Human Rights, Syria ranks 112nd in the world.

There are many international agreements on human rights, and, many mechanisms by which countries can be brought to account for their actions. Together, these have been the biggest historical movement in the fight against oppression and inhumanity. Or, putting it another way: these are rejected mostly by those who wish to oppress inhumanely. None of them are perfect and many people object to various components and wordings, but, no-one has come up with, and enforced, better methods of controlling the occasional desires that states and peoples have of causing angst for other states and peoples in a violent, unjust or inhumane way. Points are awarded for the number of human rights agreements ratified by the country, plus the acceptance of the petition mechanisms for disputes. The maximum possible score in 2009 was 24.

For more, see:

• "Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2019).

2.3. HR Treaties Lag

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better3
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty3
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
42	El Salvador	6.80
43	Rwanda	6.83
44	Sri Lanka	6.91
45	Syria	7.02
46	Uganda	7.03
47	Mauritius	7.09
48	Australia	7.31
49	Brazil	7.36
	Asia Avg	10.97
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

Regarding speed of uptake of HR treaties, Syria ranks 45th in the world.

Human Rights (HR) Treaties Lag is a count of how long it took each country to sign each of 11 key HR treaties. From the date of the first signatory of each treaty, all other countries have one point added to their score for each day they delayed in signing. Results are presented as average time in years to sign each one. The lower a country's score, the more enthusiastically it has taken on international Human Rights Treaties - which are, of course, minimal standards of good governance. The slowest are the countries of Micronesia, Melanesia, Australasia and Polynesia all lagged by over 12 years per treaty. The best regions are The Americas, Scandinavia and the Mediterranean.

For more, see:

• "Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2020).

2.4. Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom

Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom Lower is better8
Pos.		2014 Rank8
1	Hong Kong	1
2	Switzerland	2
3	New Zealand	3
	...
152	Algeria	152
153	Myanmar (Burma)	153
154	Venezuela	154
155	Central African Rep.	155
156	Syria	156
157	Iran	157
158	Yemen	158
159	Libya	159
	Asia Avg	94.6
	World Avg	79.7
q=159.

Syria is positioned 4th-worst in the world when it comes to supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms.

The Human Freedom Index published by the Fraser Institute is...

“... a broad measure of human freedom, understood as the absence of coercive constraint. It uses 79 distinct indicators of personal and economic freedom in the following areas: Rule of Law, Security and Safety, Movement, Religion, Association, Assembly, and Civil Society, Expression, Relationships, Size of Government, Legal System and Property Rights, Access to Sound Money, Freedom to Trade Internationally, Regulation of Credit, Labor, and Business. [...]

The highest levels of freedom are in Western Europe, Northern Europe, and North America (Canada and the United States. The lowest levels are in the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. [...]

Countries in the top quartile of freedom enjoy a significant higher per capita income ($37,147) [compared with] the least-free quartile [at] $8,700). The HFI finds a strong correlation between human freedom and democracy.”

"The Human Freedom Index" by The Fraser Institute (2016)₁₇

For more, see:

• "Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2019).

2.5. Press Freedom

Press Freedom Lower is better9
Pos.		20139
1	Finland	638
2	Netherlands	648
3	Norway	652
	...
171	Vietnam	7178
172	China	7307
173	Iran	7340
174	Somalia	7359
175	Syria	7853
176	Turkmenistan	7914
177	N. Korea	8390
178	Eritrea	8483
	Asia Avg	4378
	World Avg	3249
q=178.

Syria comes 4th-worst in the world regarding supporting press freedom.

The freedom to investigate, publish information, and have access to others' opinion is a fundamental part of today's information-driven world, and is linked with Freedom of Speech and Good Governance. Scores on the Press Freedom Index are calculated according to indicators including pluralism - the degree to which opinions are represented in the media, media independence of authorities, self-censorship, legislation, transparency and the infrastructure that supports news and information, and, the level of violence against journalists which includes lengths of imprisonments. The index "does not take direct account of the kind of political system but it is clear that democracies provide better protection for the freedom to produce and circulate accurate news and information than countries where human rights are flouted". The rankings are used as one of the datasets of the Social and Moral Development Index₁₈

It must be noted that press freedom is not an indicator of press quality and the press itself can be abusive; the UK suffers in particular from a popular brand of nasty reporting that infuses several of its newspapers who are particularly prone to running destructive and often untrue campaigns against victims. The Press Freedom Index notes that "the index should in no way be taken as an indicator of the quality of the media in the countries concerned".

For more, see:

• "Human Rights" by Vexen Crabtree (2019).

2.6. Slavery

Slavery Lower is better19
Pos.		2018 % Victims19
1	Japan	0.03
2=	Canada	0.05
2=	Taiwan	0.05
	...
127	Malaysia	0.69
128	Djibouti	0.71
129	Angola	0.72
130	Syria	0.73
131	Liberia	0.74
132=	Guinea-Bissau	0.75
132=	Madagascar	0.75
132=	Malawi	0.75
	Asia Avg	0.79
	World Avg	0.65
q=167.

When it comes to eliminating modern slavery, Syria comes 130th in the world.

The taking of slaves has been an unwholesome feature of Human cultures since prehistory₂₀. Private households and national endeavours have frequently been augmented with the use of slaves. The Egyptian and Roman empires both thrived on them for both purposes. Aside from labourers they are often abused sexually by their owners and their owners' friends₂₁. The era of colonialism and the beginnings of globalisation changed nothing: the imprisonment and forced movements of labour continued to destroy many lives except that new justifications were invented based on Christian doctrine and the effort to convert non-Christians. By 1786 over 12 million slaves had been extracted from Africa and sent to colonial labour camps, with a truly atrocious condition of life₂₂. But they were not the only ones to blame; in Africa internal nations such as the Asantes sold and bought tens of thousands of slaves₂₃.

The abolition of the slave trade was a long and slow process. Until a relatively modern time, even philosophers, religious leaders and those concerned with ethics justified, or ignored, the problem of slavery₂₄. The first abolitionists were always the slaves themselves. Their protests and rebellions caused the industry to become too expensive to continue. After that, it was the economic costs of maintain slave colonies that led the British to reject and then oppose the slave trade globally. Finally, the enlightenment-era thinkers of France encouraged moral and ethical thinking including the declaration of the inherent value of human life and human dignity₂₅. A long-overdue wave of compassionate and conscientious movements swept across the West, eliminating public support for slavery, until the industries and churches that supported it had no choice but to back down.

'Modern slavery' includes forced labour (often of the under-age), debt bondage (especially generational), sexual slavery, chattel slavery and other forms of abuse, some of which can be surprisingly difficult to detect, but often target those fleeing from warzones and the vulnerable.₂₆. Some industries (diamond, clothing, coal) from some countries (Burundi₂₇, Eritrea₂₇, Indonesia₂₈) are a particular concern. The Walk Free Foundation, say that in 2016, 40.3 million people were living in modern slavery₂₉.

For more, see:

• "The Historical Slave Trade and Modern Slavery" by Vexen Crabtree (2018).

3. Gender Equality

The 1950s saw a late rush of 43 countries, including Syria and many developing nations, move to cease preventing women from voting. Syria is an unequal country, with male rights dominating those of women. Cultural Islamic beliefs are squarely to blame for this.

See:

• "Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree
• "Islam and Women" by Vexen Crabtree

3.1. Gender Inequality

Gender Inequality Lower is better5
Pos.		20155
1	Switzerland	0.04
2	Denmark	0.04
3	Netherlands	0.04
	...
130	Pakistan	0.55
131	Ghana	0.55
132	Lesotho	0.55
133	Syria	0.55
134	Togo	0.56
135	Kenya	0.56
136	Egypt	0.57
137	Swaziland	0.57
	Asia Avg	0.36
	World Avg	0.36
q=159.

Amongst the worst in Asia Syria ranks 133rd in the world when it comes to opposing gender inequality.

The UN Human Development Reports include statistics on gender equality which take into account things like maternal mortality, access to political power (seats in parliament) and differences between male and female education rates. Gender inequality is not a necessary part of early human development. Although a separation of roles is almost universal due to different strengths between the genders, this does not have to mean that women are subdued, and, such patriarchalism is not universal in ancient history. Those cultures and peoples who shed, or never developed, the idea that mankind ought to dominate womankind, are better cultures and peoples than those who, even today, cling violently to those mores.

For more, see:

• "Gender Equality" by Vexen Crabtree (2023).

3.2. Year Women Can Vote

Year Women Can Vote Lower is better
Pos.		Total Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
	...
95=	Guyana	1953
95=	Mexico	1953
95=	Bhutan	1953
95=	Syria	1953
99	Colombia	1954
100=	Belize	1954
100=	Ghana	1954
102	Nicaragua	1955
	Asia Avg	1907
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

Regarding the year from which women could participate in democracy, Syria is 95th in the world.

Women now have equal rights in the vast majority of countries across the world. Although academic literature oftens talks of when a country "grants women the right to vote", this enforces a backwards way of thinking. Women always had the right to vote, however, they were frequently denied that right. The opposition to women's ability to vote in equality with man was most consistently and powerfully opposed by the Catholic Church, other Christian organisations, Islamic authorities and some other religious and secular traditionalists.

For more, see:

• "Gender Equality" by Vexen Crabtree (2023).

3.3. Honor Killings ₃₀

Cultural problems continue to make Syria an awful place for many women.

“Syria's first comprehensive field study of violence against women concluded [in 2006] that nearly one in four married woman surveyed has been beaten. The study was ... part of a report by the United Nations Development Fund for Women on the status of women in Syria. [...]

Bassam al-Kadi, a rights advocate, said that the report was part of a growing openness about many forms of domestic abuse. He has recently been working on a public information campaign to try to curb the practice known as "honor killings" - the killing of female relatives who are believed to have dishonored the family [...]. "Until two years ago, discussion of honor killing was banned in the Syrian media," Mr. Kadi said.”

NY Times (2006)₁₁

4. Prejudice

4.1. LGBT Equality

LGBT Equality Higher is better10
Pos.		2017 Score10
1	Netherlands	103
2	Belgium	90
3	Sweden	86
	...
189=	Libya	-42
189=	Morocco	-42
191	Solomon Islands	-44
192	Qatar	-54
193	Sudan	-67
194	Saudi Arabia	-72
195	Somalia	-79
196	Syria	-84
	Asia Avg	-02.1
	World Avg	12.6
q=196.

With regard to LGBT equality, Syria ranks worst in the world.

Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) folk is rife across the world. Legal restrictions co-exist alongside social stigmatisation and physical violence₃₁. LGBT tolerance and equal rights have been fought for country-by-country across the world, often against tightly entrenched cultural and religious opposition. Adult consensual sexual activity is a Human Right, protected by privacy laws₃₂. Despite this, homosexual activity is outlawed in around 80 countries₃₁. The Social & Moral LGBT Equality Index was created to compare countries and regions, granting points to each country for a variety of factors including how long gay sex has been criminalized and the extent of LGBT legal rights. Graded negative points are given for criminality of homosexuality, unequal ages of consent, legal punishments and for not signing international accords on LGBT tolerance. The signs in many developed countries are positive, and things are gradually improving. Europe is by far the least prejudiced region (Scandinavia in particular being exemplary). The Middle East and then Africa are the least morally developed, where cultural bias goes hand-in-hand with state intolerance, all too often including physical violence.

For more, see:

• "LGBT Rights Across the World: Which are the Best and Worst Countries?" by Vexen Crabtree (2017).

4.2. Freedom of Thought

Freedom of Thought Lower is better6
Pos.		20216
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
	...
181	Malaysia	4.5
182=	Morocco	4.5
182=	Kuwait	4.5
182=	Syria	4.5
182=	Jordan	4.5
186	Mauritania	4.8
187=	UAE	4.8
187=	Maldives	4.8
	Asia Avg	3.7
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

Syria comes 21st-worst in the world in terms of freethought.

Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Belief are upheld in Article 18 the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights₃₃. It affirms that it is a basic human right that all people are free to change their beliefs and religion as they wish₃₄. No countries voted against this (although eight abstained). This right was first recognized clearly in the policies of religious toleration of the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe in the post-enlightenment era₃₅ of the 19th century. In democratic countries, freedom of belief and religion is now taken for granted₃₆. In 2016 a study found that over 180 countries in the world had come to guarantee freedom of religion and belief₃₇. The best countries at doing so are Taiwan, Belgium and The Netherlands_6,38 and the worst: Afghanistan, N. Korea, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia_6,39.

Long-term studies have shown that religious violence and persecution both decrease in cultures where religious freedom is guaranteed₄₀. Despite this, there still are many who are strongly against freedom of belief₃₄, including entire cultures and many individual communities of religious believers. Their alternative is that you are not free to believe what you want and they often state that you cannot change religion without being punished (often including the death penalty): this is bemoaned as one of the most dangerous elements of religion₄₁ and "the denial of religious freedoms is inevitably intertwined with the denial of other freedoms"₄₂ and the solution is, everywhere, to allow religious freedom and the freedom of belief.

For more, see:

• "Freethought - Freedom of Belief and Freedom of Religion" by Vexen Crabtree (2022).