Syria Today | November 2009

Local News

Student stabbed eight times in school fight
A young man was stabbed eight times during a fight which broke out between students at two secondary schools in Safita and Tartous on October 2, Syria News reported.

National Museum hosts Damascus-Paris exhibition

The National Museum of Damascus opened its doors to a one-off Syrian-French contemporary art exhibition titled Damascus-Paris: Crossed Glances on October 11.

Reading in the spotlight

A number of campaigns have been launched in recent months to promote reading throughout the country. Syria Today hit the streets of Damascus to ask what can be done to encourage people to read more regularly.

Follow the Women in Syria

Some 250 women from 21 countries, including 35 from Syria, took part in the annual ‘Follow the Women’ event which passed through Syria from October 12 to 14.

Israel frees two Syrian prisoners

Two Syrian prisoners from the occupied Golan Heights were released unexpectedly from an Israeli prison on October 15. Bisher Suleiman Ahmad Maqt and Assem Mahmud Ahmed Wali still had 12 and two years of their respective sentences left to serve, the AFP reported.

White House calls for release of prominent lawyer

The White House has called for the release of Haitham al-Maleh, a 78-year-old human rights activist and lawyer who was detained by Syrian security services early last month.

UN donates medical supplies

The UNHCR donated 20 ambulances and 10 cooling chambers for storing medical supplies to the Syrian Ministry of Health on October 15.

Assad calls on EU to play bigger role in peace process

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad called on the European Union (EU) to play a larger role in the Middle East peace process on October 14, Syria’s state-run news agency SANA reported. The comments came during a press conference with visiting Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

Syria on UNESCO executive council

Syria was voted onto the executive council of UNESCO last month. The vote was held in Paris during the organisation’s 35th General Assembly held on October 14, with Syria gaining 151 out of 167 possible votes.

Palestinian protestors picket EU offices in Damascus

Representatives and sympathisers of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) gathered outside the offices of the European Commission Delegation in Damascus on October 22, calling on the international community to pressure Israel to release PFLP Secretary-General Ahmad Sa’adat.