Syria is falling apart – non-violence is the answer

My humble proposition is that an NGO, like Oslosenteret and Norwegian ex-PM Kjell Magne Bondevik, can organize a roundtable dicussion between Syrians living in Norway. We need such initiatives in, let us say, 25 different countries with syrian immigrants with different political and religious positions. The people arould those tables should be asked to imagine a solution for the conflict in their homeland, Syria. This could make a net of ideas and positive reactions that could point to a solution on the ground.

Only violence left. In Syria the posititions are so far from each other that the only thing left is violence. I hope that syrians that have experienced democracy abroad, can imagine another solution than violence.

I have earlier asked the Vatican to try to organize negociations for reconciliation in Syria. I was very glad that the Pope made such a clear statement last Sunday. Pope Benedict XVI expressed his great concern for the dramatic and increasing episodes of violence in Syria. He renewed an urgent appeal to put an end to the violence and bloodshed. He called on all syrians to begin a process of dialogue and reminded the government of its duty to recognize its citizens' legitimate demands.

I hear some voices asking for an international military intervention in the violence in Syria. I am very clearly against this idea. I was against the interventions in Iraq and in Afghanistan. I am against it for Syria.

I instead ask the international community to make a clear non-violent choice. A possibility is that something like 50.000 companions, more than obervers, from NGOs come to protect the people and control that a future ceasefire is respected. They have to be invited by the Syrian government. They can help bring wounded and dead out of the fighting area – and help civilians to find safe places. This can build trust.

Only violence? Perhaps some actions of local and international police also is necessary. But such actions have to be exceptions, not the rule, as it is today. Today military interventions is the only tool the international community knows. This should certainly be changed.

I am a monk in the Syrian desert, and my call is to point on a non-violent way. In Syria and other places. There should have been a bureau in the UN for non-violent actions. But UN has for long been a tool for regimes. But my dream for the UN is for the next century, I suppose.

The violence in Syria is a very bitter experience. I have lost friends – christian people also have been killed in different places. People we know, both Muslims and Christians, are dead. We go to funerals. It is very painful. The tragedy is tearing the whole country apart. Before this violent year the development was in the right direction, though it was very, very slow.

Christians fear. So many people are leaving the country. The Christians have been leaving for decades. The movement is speeding up. The big question is what hope Christians can see in living together with Islam. The topic is what interpretations we have of Islams place in the symbolic world.

Historicly there are bad experience in countries like Egypt, Algeria and Pakistan where Christians have been attaced. It is important to address the fear that Christians feel - and understand also the fear that other Muslims feel, too. It is important to state that a future democracy is not only rule of the majority. It has to be a safe place for minorities as well.

But many Christians in Syria do not longer see any meaning in life in Syria, other than conflict between Christians and Muslims. This is a fear that we have to listen to and understand.

Islam important role. I myself see this in a different way. Islam will, according to my understanding, play an important role in the world future spirituality. The coexistence between Christians and Muslims is very important, here and other places. I see Islam playing and important role in building The Kingdom of God. In my book In love of islam - believing in Jesus (until now translated into French and Italian, I am working with an Arabic translation and hope for an English edition as well) I have done a serious theological try to outline this.

The recent story about the Saudiarabian journalist writing against Prophet Muhammed, is part of a painful history. I feel pain for the Muslim community, and I am worried for conscience freedom. There is not enough education in the Internet about harmony among Christians and Muslims – and there is not not enough mutual respect. I have love and respect for the Prophet. In the Bible there are a lot of umbarrassing questions also about Moses, but we still love him and respect him.

Hope. Turning back to the situation in Syria. I have had a hope that president Basher al-Assad should be able to lead the country to real democracy. He has still a big responsibility to make a transition different here than in Libya and Iraq. I pray for him to make a change that will be positive for most of the people. But I realise that we are very, very much late.

Islamists. From the West You also see that the islamists are mobilizing against him. Both Christians and moderate Muslims are on the defensive. I still have a hope for the future, in spite of the violence and the crisis. I realise that this hope is very slim to day. Still: I pray for and believe in reconciliation in Syria.

This article is written for and published ine the newspaper Vaart Land Thursday 16th of February 2012.