Impact of Muslim brotherhood in Syria

Question 1

1940s?

Answer 1

• 1942 founded by Mustafa al-Sibai as an extension of the Brotherhood in Egypt
• MB politically active in Syria since 1946

Question 2

1960s?

Answer 2

• 1963 Baath party comes to power and seeks to undermine MB, who constitute main opposition to Baathist govt
• 1964 MB activities banned
• MB forms underground resistance movement and armed menbers assassinate govt officails and bomb govt premises

Question 3

1970s?

Answer 3

• Assad orders crackdown on MB
• 1979 the Combatant Vanguard defect from the brotherhood to take up arms against the Baathist regime
• 1979 attack against Syrian military academy, targets 200 cadets, 83 killed

Question 4

1980s?

Answer 4

• June 1980 MB members attempt to assassinate Assad, Syrain govt responds by arrestion 8000 MB members and killing 500 MB prisoners
• July 1980 MB membership made a capital offence
• 1981 Syrian army launches attack on Hama ( MB stronghold ) killing several hundered men
• MB retaliate by attack on Damascus
• Feb 1982, Assad launches brutal crackdown on MB - estimated 10k - 20k MB members and civillians killed
• MB widthdraw from political life in Syria

Question 5

1990s?

Answer 5

exiled MB members seek to rebrand themselves as peaceful, politically minded group

Question 6

2000s?

Answer 6

• July 2000 - Bashar al-Assad becomes president
• Early 2000s - MB issues several documents renouncing violence and calling for minority rights and free elections
• 2005 - MB endorses the Damascus Decleration
• 2011 - MB protests sees the MB remobilising in attempts to consolidate politicial and military power among the oppostion