Whereas Syria denies political freedom to its citizens, it tolerates significantly more social freedom than many other Arab countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, which is leading the charge to oust Assad. Governed by minority Alawites (a Shia sect), Syria harbors a kaleidoscope of distinct groups: Arabs, Armenians, Christians, Kurds, Druze, Ismailis, and Bedouin.&nbsp;
首先，让我们试着解开一些让结束叙利亚暴力的努力迟迟得不到进展的讽刺和矛盾之处。叙利亚拒绝给予公民政治自由，但该国社会自由其实要胜过许多其他阿拉伯国家，特别是沙特，而沙特正是驱逐巴沙尔的领导者。叙利亚的政权掌握在占少数的阿拉维派（属于什叶派）手中，其国内存在数量极多的截然不同的集团：阿拉伯人、亚美尼亚人、基督徒、库尔德人、德鲁兹派、伊斯玛义派，还有贝多因人。