Movement for Justice and Development in Syria

Movement for Justice and Development in Syria
Leader Anas Al-Abdah
Founded 2006 (In London, United Kingdom)
Headquarters London, United Kingdom
Ideology Syrian nationalism,
Liberalism,
Economic liberalism
Political position Centre-right
Website
www.forsyria.org

The Movement for Justice and Development in Syria (Arabic: حركة العدالة والبناء في سورية‎‎ Ḥarakat Al-'Idalat Wal-Bana'a fi Suriyah) is a political party and movement founded in the year 2006 and based in London, United Kingdom. The group describes itself as "committed to peaceful, democratic change in Syria, and the creation of a modern state which respects human rights and promotes economic and social development."[1] Its chairman, Anas Al-Abdah, has been vocal in criticizing the actions of the Syrian government throughout the Syrian Civil War.[2][3]

The group, which openly advocates for the removal of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, is banned in Syria.[4]

Leaders

Anas Al-Abdah is currently Chairman of the Movement for Justice and Development in Syria. He was born in Damascus in 1967 and grew up there before leaving for Jordan in 1980 to study for a BSC in Geology at Yarmouk University. He moved to the UK in 1989 to continue a post-graduate degree in Geo-physics at Newcastle University. Since 1991 he has worked in IT management, and has well over ten years experience in the field.

Dr. Ibrahim Almeriy is Member of the MJD Executive Board. He was born in Idlib in 1973 and grew up in Syria before moving with his family to Jordan. He graduated in Medicine from Mosul University, and established a successful practice in Amman. He was very active among the Syrian student organizations in Jordan and Iraq. He is currently training to practise in the UK.

Dr. Assem Aba Zaid is a Member of the MJD Executive Board. He was born in Dar'a in 1968, and moved to Iraq to study for a BA in Economics at Mosul University. He continued his studies and obtained Masters degree in Economics and PhD in Stock Markets. He taught economics in various countries and has considerable knowledge and experience of student and political activism. He has several published papers.

Mamoun Naqqar is a leading figure of the MJD Jordan Office. He was born in Hama in 1953, and served as a Syrian Air Force pilot for seven years. He has founded a highly successful drip-irrigation business in Jordan. He has remained active in Syrian politics for over 25 years, and has built up extensive contacts in the Middle East.

Mahmoud Bahri resigned - is a founding member of MJD and served on the Executive Board 2007-2009. A Business professional based in the city of London. Resigned in 2010

Connections with other Syria-critical groups

The Movement for Justice and Development in Syria was co-founded by Anas Al-Abdah (a.k.a. al-Abdeh[5]) and his brother Malik Al-Abdah, the former currently chairing it.[6] While Anas Al-Abdah is also a signatory of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights[7] and secretary of the Damascus Declaration Support Committee in the UK,[8] his brother Malik set up the London based Syrian opposition satellite channel Barada TV.

Controversies

Classified U.S. diplomatic cables, provided by the anti-secrecy Web site WikiLeaks, show that the U.S. State Department has funneled $6 million to Barada TV between 2006 and 2011 to operate the satellite channel and finance other activities inside Syria, The Washington Post reported. The State Department refused to comment on this allegation.[9] There have been inconsistencies over the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights' leadership and an admission by them of some unvalidated and controversial reports, while Wikileaks cables have revealed US State Department funding of Barada TV.[10] The closeness of the Movement for Justice and Development in Syria, Barada TV and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights by virtue of the high level administrative & family links at the level of the al-Abdeh brothers casts doubt over the neutrality of these Syrian opposition groups operating out of Western Europe.

References

  1. ↑ "What we stand for". Movement for Justice and Development. ForSyria.org. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  2. ↑ Alami, Mona (18 April 2011). "Syria: Unrest spreads further". Inter Press Service News Agency. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  3. ↑ "Syrian troops 'widening' crackdown". Al Jazeera. 14 June 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  4. ↑ Whitlock, Craig (18 April 2011). "U.S. has funded anti-government groups in Syria". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  5. ↑ "Robert Fisk: Conspiracy of silence in the Arab world". London: TheINDEPENDENT. 10 February 2007.
  6. ↑ Morrison, Sarah (19 April 2011). "UK-based Syrian TV station denies secret funding from US government". London: TheINDEPENDENT.
  7. ↑ "Important Letter from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights about Rami Abdul Rahman".
  8. ↑ "MJD Leader Says Arrests Will Not Stop Opposition Progress".
  9. ↑ Whitlock, Craig (18 April 2011). "U.S. secretly backed Syrian opposition groups, cables released by WikiLeaks show". TheWashingtonPost. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  10. ↑ Whitlock, Craig (18 April 2011). "U.S. secretly backed Syrian opposition groups, cables released by WikiLeaks show". TheWashingtonPost.
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