Ramadan Becomes Political Tool in Syria as Fighting Rages

July 21, 2012 from Russia Today

As government forces in Syria launch all-out counter attacks in Damascus to reclaim districts held by rebels, religion is also becoming a political weapon. According to Syrian state television, Saturday marks the first day of Ramadan for Muslims in Syria. But as the violence rages, some Syrians are using the holy month to take a stand against the fighting - and changing the start of their fasting.

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Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south and Israel to the southwest. A country of fertile plains, high mountains and deserts, i... Explore this topic

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The Syrian people are the inhabitants and citizens of the Syrian Arab Republic. While modern-day Syrians are commonly described as Arabs by virtue of their modern-day language and bonds to Arab culture and history, they are, in fact, largely a blend of the various Aramaic, Ara... Explore this topic

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A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the Qur'an—which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad—and, with lesser authority than the Qur'an, the teachings and practices of Muhammad as ... Explore this topic

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Politics in the Syrian Arab Republic takes place in the framework of what is officially a parliamentary republic, but what is considered an authoritarian government where the power is in the hands of the President of Syria and his family, all members of the ruling Arab Sociali... Explore this topic

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Syrian Civil War

Ramadan

Battle of Damascus