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Syrian refugee' felt oppressed' by Stop the War protest | Syrian refugee' felt oppressed' by Stop the War protest |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Syrian refugee who was shouted down at a Stop the War demonstration says he "felt oppressed" by the group. | A Syrian refugee who was shouted down at a Stop the War demonstration says he "felt oppressed" by the group. |
The protest in Downing Street on Friday evening was against the American attack on a Syrian airbase. | The protest in Downing Street on Friday evening was against the American attack on a Syrian airbase. |
Hassan Akkad, from Damascus, asked why the group was not protesting against President Assad instead, but was drowned out. | Hassan Akkad, from Damascus, asked why the group was not protesting against President Assad instead, but was drowned out. |
He said: "British people not letting a Syrian say something about Syria in a protest about Syria. It's mad." | He said: "British people not letting a Syrian say something about Syria in a protest about Syria. It's mad." |
'Baseless slogans' | 'Baseless slogans' |
The 29-year-old said he had wanted to be the voice of Syrians who were still in the country but left the protest "livid". | The 29-year-old said he had wanted to be the voice of Syrians who were still in the country but left the protest "livid". |
Stop the War was founded in September 2001, after US president George W Bush announced a "war on terror". | Stop the War was founded in September 2001, after US president George W Bush announced a "war on terror". |
After a video of the encounter was shared widely online, Mr Akkad told the BBC: "I didn't see them protesting against the chemical attacks, I didn't see them protesting against Putin bombing Syria for the last two years. | |
"I wanted to go to that protest and I wanted to observe. | "I wanted to go to that protest and I wanted to observe. |
"I went to the protest and I saw a group of 30 people with placards, not a single mention of Assad. | "I went to the protest and I saw a group of 30 people with placards, not a single mention of Assad. |
"All the placards are against Donald Trump and they're repeating baseless slogans with their megaphones." | "All the placards are against Donald Trump and they're repeating baseless slogans with their megaphones." |
'Literally shred people' | 'Literally shred people' |
He added: "I went to them respectfully and said, 'Listen I'm a Syrian refugee who lives here and I have an opinion, it's a protest about Syria I want to say something'. | He added: "I went to them respectfully and said, 'Listen I'm a Syrian refugee who lives here and I have an opinion, it's a protest about Syria I want to say something'. |
"They didn't even address me, they ignored my existence. With their megaphones they went louder and louder and the organisers told them to carry on." | "They didn't even address me, they ignored my existence. With their megaphones they went louder and louder and the organisers told them to carry on." |
Mr Akkad left Syria in September 2015. He says he was imprisoned twice and tortured for protesting against Assad's regime. | Mr Akkad left Syria in September 2015. He says he was imprisoned twice and tortured for protesting against Assad's regime. |
He left his family there and made an 87-day journey to the UK. | He left his family there and made an 87-day journey to the UK. |
Mr Akkad said when the US launched its attack on a Syrian airbase, it did so with "great accuracy" whereas, he said, Assad's bombers "literally shred people down". | Mr Akkad said when the US launched its attack on a Syrian airbase, it did so with "great accuracy" whereas, he said, Assad's bombers "literally shred people down". |
"They [President's Assad's forces] have killed hundreds of thousands, we've lost our home, we were displaced, we were made refugees all because of the Assad regime," he said. | "They [President's Assad's forces] have killed hundreds of thousands, we've lost our home, we were displaced, we were made refugees all because of the Assad regime," he said. |
'Mute our voices' | 'Mute our voices' |
"People were tortured to death, chemical attacks, all sort of attacks barrel bombs shredding children and flattening down entire cities. | "People were tortured to death, chemical attacks, all sort of attacks barrel bombs shredding children and flattening down entire cities. |
"So bombing Assad's war machines is in our favour because that means less Syrian civilians will die, less children will die." | "So bombing Assad's war machines is in our favour because that means less Syrian civilians will die, less children will die." |
After the group would not let Mr Akkad speak, he said: "I felt oppressed, it was like being back in Syria. Like how the Syrian police used to mute our voices. | After the group would not let Mr Akkad speak, he said: "I felt oppressed, it was like being back in Syria. Like how the Syrian police used to mute our voices. |
"I'm not going to be silenced I have the right to say what I believe. | "I'm not going to be silenced I have the right to say what I believe. |
"I left the protest. I was angry, I was livid." | "I left the protest. I was angry, I was livid." |
The BBC has contacted Stop the War for a response. On its Facebook page before the protest, it said: "The Stop the War Coalition condemns Donald Trump's decision to launch attacks against Syrian targets. | The BBC has contacted Stop the War for a response. On its Facebook page before the protest, it said: "The Stop the War Coalition condemns Donald Trump's decision to launch attacks against Syrian targets. |
"This action will only increase the level of killing in Syria, and inflame the terrible war that has already caused untold misery for the people of the country. | "This action will only increase the level of killing in Syria, and inflame the terrible war that has already caused untold misery for the people of the country. |
"This is the worst possible way to respond to the indefensible attack at Khan Sheikhun. | "This is the worst possible way to respond to the indefensible attack at Khan Sheikhun. |
"As well as deepening the tragedy of the Syrian people, this utterly irresponsible act threatens to widen the war and lead the West into military confrontation with Russia." | "As well as deepening the tragedy of the Syrian people, this utterly irresponsible act threatens to widen the war and lead the West into military confrontation with Russia." |
Video courtesy of Tehmoor Khalid. | Video courtesy of Tehmoor Khalid. |