Profile: Syrian Observatory for Human Rights

By Olivia Lang

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has emerged as a prominent campaign group amid the country's revolt against President Bashar al-Assad, releasing daily casualty figures for the international media. But who is behind the organisation and what does it do?

Although the UK-based organisation has gained a high profile since the uprising began in March, it has been working covertly in Syria for more than five years.

It was started in May 2006 by around a dozen activists who wanted to raise awareness of human rights and freedom of speech in a country where those who spoke out frequently found themselves arrested.

The group of mainly professionals, some with a legal background, began by sending out a monthly e-newsletter to some 20,000 people, detailing cases of abuse, says Mousab Azzawi, who heads the English section of the group.

The reports were sent from foreign countries to prevent being tracked by the security services. It was a small-time operation, but Mr Azzawi says he believed the reports showed its audience that Syria "was not an absolutely silent country".

'Coffee shops'

The newsletter was later discontinued and the Observatory readjusted its scope to concentrate on high-profile cases, working with international organisations such as Amnesty International.

When the uprising broke out in March, it switched its focus to report developments on the ground, rapidly building up its network to do so.

It now has 240 members and affiliates, covering every province in Syria, with some volunteers aggregating and publicising information from the UK.

Those in Syria work to confirm reports that have come from activists or been cited in the media, checking with family members, witnesses or medics on the ground.

Mr Azzawi says it is a strict verification process, with members having to record details of interviews they undertake to confirm the deaths, as well as send videos or photos if they are available.

Most of the network uses Skype or email, rather than phones, for security reasons.

As foreign journalists are unable to operate freely in Syria to verify reports themselves, the media is increasingly reliant on such information.

Abdul Omar, another volunteer, says that while the group's role is not to topple Mr Assad, he believes it is a necessary prerequisite to the ending of violence.

But while the Observatory is essentially opposed to the government, it seeks to act impartially, Mr Omar says, recording "all human rights atrocities regardless of who it is that perpetrated them".

'Not political'

All those involved work on a voluntary basis, Mr Azzawi says, from their own houses or coffee shops.

Ties between members are kept to a minimum in case any one individual is captured and interrogated.

It is dangerous work: Mr Azzawi says six people who worked for the group have so far been "martyred".

Similarly, the organisation stresses that all those who join are monitored to ensure they are not from the security forces, or have a strong political allegiance.

"We tell everybody - just take off your coat before you come," Mr Azzawi says, adding that the organisation has members from all groups, including from the Alawite sect to which President Assad belongs.


(2011-12-27/BBC News)