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New Hope of Syrian Minorities: Ripple Effect of Iraqi Politics
(New York Times) Katherine Zoepf - In northeastern Syria, home to several ethnic minorities, the Iraqi election next month is evoking hope. "I believe democracy in Iraq must succeed," Vahan Kirakos, a Syrian of Armenian ethnicity, said. "Iraq is like the stone thrown into the pool." Minority activists in Syria say they may not form legal political parties or publish newspapers in minority languages. Syria's largest minority, the Kurds, numbering more than 150,000, are denied citizenship. In March, more than 3,000 Kurds in Qamishli near the Turkish border took part in antigovernment protests, which led to clashes with Syrian security forces and more than 25 deaths. In October, more than 2,000 Assyrian Christians in Hasakah City demonstrated following an episode in which two Christians were killed by Muslims who called them "Bush supporters" and "Christian dogs." "Kurds in Syria feel relieved when we see Kurds in Iraq getting their rights," said Taher Sfog, secretary general of Syria's illegal Kurdish Democratic National Party. "Democracy there will lead to a push in Syria, too."