Syrian law excludes Islamic parties

The Syrian government has drafted a law for the establishment of political parties which provides for their resources and the funding of their activities. The drafted law excludes parties on the basis of religion and ethnicity, which means the exclusion of any Islamic or Kurdish parties. The official news agency "SANA" reported that the drafted law "includes the objectives and basic principles governing the parties, and the conditions and procedures established and licensed, as well as provisions for the parties' resources, the funding of their activities, and their rights and obligations" adding that: "It would prevent the establishment of any party on the basis of religious, ethnic, or regional lines, or classist, or professional divisions, and forbids discrimination based on race, sex, or creed." It also prohibits a party from becoming: "a branch or a subsidiary of a non-Syrian party or political organization." The opposition responded by calling for the formation of a public body specific to "the future composition of Syria", including independent opponents. The German Foreign Minister revealed that he has been in contact with members of the Syrian opposition in both Berlin and Damascus. Meanwhile, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alain Juppé, has stressed the importance of continuing the policy of sanctions on Syrian officials. The party law was drafted in conjunction with the continued security operations in Homs, which have cleared the streets of bystanders, as hundreds of demonstrators join the protest movement. Some sources in the media have also reported heavy deployment of the Syrian army in Hama, amid expectations of a new crackdown on the city.