Reform Party of Syria

The Reform Party of Syria (Arabic: حزب الاصلاح السوري Ḥizb Al-Iṣlāḥ Al-Sūrīy), or RPS is a secular Syrian political party and lobby group based in the United States that was active in the mid to late 2000s. Its leader, Farid Ghadry, is a United States citizen and has been described as "controversial" by Al Jazeera.[1] According to the RPS, they were formed as a response to 9/11.[2] It is a member of fellow lobbying organization the Coalition Against Terrorist Media.

Reform Party of Syria
حزب الاصلاح السوري
LeaderFarid Ghadry
FoundedOctober 2001 (in Washington, D.C., United States)
HeadquartersWashington, D.C., United States
Website
www.reformsyria.org

An opposition party against the ruling Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region, the Reform Party of Syria advocates for a "New Syria" characterised by democratic and economic reform. The RPS claims that the main factors of increased terrorism are "political despotism, economic deprivation, and social stagnation in the Middle East". The party supports globalization and free trade agreements between Syria and the rest of the Middle East, the banning of weapons of mass destruction, freedom of religion, and peace between Syria and the countries of Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and Iraq.[2]

WikiLeaks cables released revealed that Ghadry and his organization were viewed as "unwelcome" by Riad Seif,[3] and a Syrian member of parliament described Ghadry as not being a "major figure", and was perplexed by U.S. backing of him.[4] Similarly Haitham al-Maleh, who would later become a senior figure in the Syrian National Council, viewed Ghadry as an "opportunist".[5]

See also

References
  1. قوى المعارضة في سوريا. Al Jazeera (in Arabic). Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  2. About the Reform Party of Syria
  3. "Riad Seif Details Future Political Plans, Asks For Quiet Usg Support". United States Embassy Damascus. 14 January 2006. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  4. "The View From Parliament: Mehlis, The Asad Speech, And Labwani". United States Embassy Damascus. 25 November 2005. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  5. "Usg Statements On Political Prisoners Overshadowed By Aftermath Of Bashar,s Speech". United States Embassy Damascus. 17 November 2005. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
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