ISLAM and the WEST Forum

What can the West do about Syria?

Date: Wednesday 30 May 2012

Time: 6.30 pm

Venue: Arts Two Lecture Theatre

Panel Includes: Ian Black(Guardian), Ausama Monajed (Syrian National Council) & Ammar Waqqaf (Syrian Social Club)

After more than a year of protest and violence, and over 10,000 deaths, the
Syrian crisis looks no nearer to an end. Unlike in Egypt and Tunisia, the
ruling regime of President Bashar al-Assad appears entrenched and unlikely
to fall anytime soon, while the opposition has shown itself to be
determined, if militarily weak, in the face of near-constant repression.

With the deadlock hard to break and civil war looking ever more likely, this
panel considers what, if anything, can the West do to help bring about a
solution in this key state in the Arab and Muslim world? Despite western
reluctance for another Middle Eastern military campaign, should a military
option against Assad, similar to that employed by NATO in Libya, be
seriously considered? Alternatively, is there any circumstance in which the
West would engage with Syria while Assad remains in power? Are the West's
current policies of diplomatic and economic sanctions having any impact, or
are they hurting the people rather than the regime? 

With a panel of activists - both for and against the regime - alongside policy makers and
regional experts, this forum will debate and discuss such key issues and will the open the floor for questions.

COME TO DEBATE ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST PRESSING ISSUES

www.islamandthewest.qmul.ac.uk