Syrian National Council
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المجلس الوطني السوري Al-Majlis al-Waṭanī as-Sūri | |
Radwan Ziadeh | |
Website | www |
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Politics of the Syrian opposition |
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The Syrian National Council (SNC),
Initially, the council denied seeking to play the role of a
In 2011 and 2012, the Council was recognized by several United Nations member states and by the European Union as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people. However, it remained reluctant to form a government, whose authority would have superseded its own. It also had no presence on the ground in Syria, and played no role in military operations, which weakened its legitimacy.[11]
In November 2012, the Syrian National Council agreed to unify with several other opposition groups to form the
The Syrian National Council withdrew from the Syrian National Coalition on 20 January 2014 in protest at the decision of the coalition to attend the Geneva II Conference on Syria.[15][16] The Coalition eventually supplanted the Council as the main representative body of the opposition.[11] As of the mid-2010s, the Syrian National Council is no longer active.
History
The SNC's formation was announced in the city of
In 2011 and 2012, the Syrian National Council was recognized as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people by several UN member states, including France,[21] Spain,[22] the United States,[23] and the United Kingdom.[24] Turkey expressed its support for the SNC.[25] The European Union also recognized the SNC as legitimate representative.[26] Other states established informal relations with the SNC, such as Japan.[27]
On April 1, 2012, the Friends of Syria Group - which includes most members of the Arab League, the United States, the European Union, and Turkey - formally recognized the Syrian National Council as the principal opposition structure and as a legitimate representative of the Syrian people.[11]
In November 2012, the Syrian National Council agreed to unify with several other opposition groups to form the
In December 2012, the Friends of Syria Group transferred its recognition to the Syrian National Coalition which was declared the "sole legitimate representative" of the Syrian people.[11]
On 20 January 2014, the Syrian National Council announced that it was leaving the Syrian National Coalition in protest at the decision of the coalition to attend the Geneva II Conference on Syria.[15] The Syrian National Council stated that participating in the talks would go backwards on its stance "to not enter negotiations" until president al-Assad left office.[16]
The Syrian National Council was effectively replaced by the Coalition as the Syrian opposition's umbrella organization.[11] In 2016, Jarba launched another group, Syria's Tomorrow Movement.[29] In 2018, Al Jazeera English mentioned the Syrian National Council as "defunct".[30]
Membership

The SNC's membership includes many members of the exiled Syrian wing of the Muslim Brotherhood[31] and is supported by the Damascus Declaration's exile wing.[32] In 2011, the SNC itself claimed to represent approximately 60 per cent of the Syrian opposition.[5]
Paris-based Syrian academic Burhan Ghalioun originally served as its most prominent spokesperson and was named in September 2011 as chair of the council.[33] Former Muslim Brotherhood leader Ali Sadr el-Din Bayanouni stated that Ghalioun was chosen because he "is accepted in the West and at home and, to prevent the regime from capitalising on the presence of an Islamist at the top of the SNC."[34][35]
On 10 June 2012, a new leader for Syrian National council was elected. Swedish based
The SNC was soon plagued with internal conflict. One secular member of the SNC claimed that more than half of the council are
However, on 27 March 2012, during an Istanbul meeting called by Turkey and Qatar, all opposition groups - except the National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change, which had not attended - agreed to recognize the Syrian National Council as the "formal interlocutor and formal representative of the Syrian people". Abdual al-Haj of the SNC said that "now the international community no longer has an excuse to withhold support for the revolution, help arm the Free Syrian Army and establish safe zones to protect the civilian Syrian population."[43][44] The BBC reported from the meeting that "[a]ll but one of Syria's disparate opposition groups have agreed to unite behind the Syrian National Council."[43]
The SNC, despite having had a Kurdish chairman, does not have
Political positions
On 28 October 2011, the SNC expressed worries about the Libyan scenario (with the violent overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi) being reiterated in Syria. It warned against a militarization of the conflict and insisted that the revolution was not sectarian but included all factions of the Syrian society. It also put its hopes in the multiplications of acts of civil disobedience as they "can be generalized, developed and expanded. This is because they are peaceful. These will be supported by businesses and others who are afraid of the costs of war. Peaceful methods are generalizable."[47]
However, the SNC came to review its position on the peaceful nature of the uprising. According to the SNC, the opposition is now faced with two options: "greater militarization of local resistance or foreign intervention." With China and Russia veto impeding a Security Council resolution, the international intervention scenario is unlikely to unfold.[48] As a result, in the context of increasing defections in the military and the escalating violence in Syria, the SNC and the Free Syrian Army struck a deal in January 2012, recognising the units of anti-government rebels fighting in Syria. The SNC said that it was the duty of the opposition "to assist the rebels." While the SNC asserted that it would not provide arms directly to the Free Syrian Army, it will provide funds to "keep the Free Syrian Army afloat." For this reason, donations can be made on the SNC website.[49]
See also
- National Council for the Forces of the Peaceful Revolution(Yemen)
- National Transitional Council (Libya)
Notes
References
- ^ Skelton, Charlie (12 July 2012). "The Syrian opposition: who's doing the talking?". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 8 February 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
- Al Ahram. 12 November 2011. Archivedfrom the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
- ^ a b Yezdani, Ipek (23 August 2011). "Syrian dissidents form national council". World Wires. Miami Herald Media. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ a b Yezdani, İpek (23 August 2011). "Syrian dissidents form national council". The Edmond Sun. Archived from the original on 4 December 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
- ^ a b "Syrian council wants recognition as voice of opposition". Reuters. 10 October 2011. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
- ^ "Syrian National Council, Syria's rebel government, opens offices in Turkey". Global Post. 15 December 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
- ^ "Syrian National Council Holds First Congress in Tunis". Tunisia Live. 16 December 2011. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
- ^ "Why Syria's Kurds Will Determine the Fate of the Revolution". IKJNEWS. 15 December 2011. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
- ^ "Q&A: Syrian opposition alliance". BBC News. 16 November 2011.
- ^ Ruthven, Malise (23 June 2016). "How to Understand ISIS". New York Review of Books. 63 (11). Retrieved 29 October 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g Yezid Sayigh (3 April 2013). "The Syrian Opposition's Leadership Problem". The Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ a b AP 4:15 p.m. EST 11 November 2012 (11 November 2012). "Syrian opposition groups reach unity deal". Usatoday.com. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "Syrian opposition groups sign coalition deal - Middle East". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ a b Gamal, Rania El (11 November 2012). "Syrian opposition agrees deal, chooses preacher as leader". Reuters. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ Times of Israel. 21 January 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
- ^ a b "Syrian National Council quits opposition coalition". Agence France Presse. 20 January 2014. Archived from the original on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
- ^ Sarra Grira (13/01/2012) "Cracks emerge in Syrian opposition amid ongoing anti-government protests" Archived 12 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine, France 24.
- ^ Amal Hanano (18 April 2012) "Any given Friday" Archived 12 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Foreign Policy.
- ^ Syrian National Council official website. "Executive Committee". Public Statement. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012.
- ^ "Syria opposition launches national council in İstanbul". Todayszaman.com. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
- ^ "Syria: France backs anti-Assad coalition", BBC News
- ^ "Spain Considers the SNC the Representative of the Syrian People". Syrian National Council. 24 November 2011. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
- ^ "Clinton to Syrian opposition: Ousting al-Assad is only first step in transition". CNN. 6 December 2011. Archived from the original on 21 December 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
- ^ "UK Recognizes Syrian Opposition". International Business Times. 24 February 2012.
- ^ Jaffe, Greg (15 November 2011). "Turkish PM: Lost Confidence in Syrian Leadership". Voice of America.
- ^ "EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement: Council adopts decision on conclusion". www.consilium.europa.eu. 29 April 2021.
- ^ "SNC Delegation Visits Japan". Syrian National Council. 11 May 2012. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
- ^ "Syrian National Coalition facing splits over new president". Asharq Al-Awsat. 12 July 2014. Archived from the original on 2 September 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
- ^ "UAE, Egypt back launch of new Syrian opposition movement". The New Arab. 12 March 2016.
- ^ Malak Chabkoun (28 January 2018). "What is left of the Syrian opposition?". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
- ^ "More Divisions Among the Syrian Opposition". Stratfor. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Syrian opposition launches joint National Council". BBC News. 2 October 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- ^ "Al-Bayanuni Unmasks the Syrian National Council and Burhan Ghalioun", YouTube. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
- ^ "Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines". M.yahoo.com. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ Youcefi, Fouad (10 June 2012). "Assad står på sitt sista ben" [Assad standing on his final leg] (in Swedish). SVT Nyheter. Archived from the original on 13 June 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
- ^ "Syria opposition's SNC seeks backers but lacks leaders". Reuters. 17 February 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016.
- ^ a b c "Divided They Stand - An Overview of Syria's Political Opposition Factions" (PDF). Foundation for European Progressive Studies. October 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
- ^ Al-Arabiya. 14 March 2012. Archived from the originalon 14 March 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- ^ Balmer, Crispian; Evans, Dominic (15 March 2012). "Pro-Assad rallies mark anniversary of Syria revolt". Reuters. London. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- ^ Lea Keath; Zeina Karam (21 March 2012). "Islamists seek influence in Syria uprising - Yahoo News". News.yahoo.com. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ "Homs under fire as Syria awaits referendum result; rift develops in opposition group". Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Opposition unite behind Syrian National Council". BBC. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
- ^ "Arab ministers to debate Syria draft at Baghdad meet; Assad opponents join forces". Al Arabiya. 28 March 2012. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
- ^ "Syrian Kurdish Activist Meshal Tammo killed in Qamishli". DayPress. 7 October 2011. Archived from the original on 10 November 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
- ^ Syrian Kurd Leader: Revolution Won't Succeed Without Minorities, The Atlantic, 20 January 2012
- ^ Blaser, Noah. "In fight against Assad, Syrian opposition looks for its own model of revolution". Article. Today's Zaman. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012.
- ^ Marquand, Robert (27 January 2012). "Syria's opposition concerned about independent armed rebel groups". the Christian Science Monitor.
- ^ Donations Page, Syrian National Council. Retrieved 2012-01-21.