Cairo: When he fled to Egypt earlier this year from government oppression in Syria, Rakan could not find a better place than the iconic Tahrir Square in central Cairo to promote his country's cause for democracy.
"Tahrir is now a byword for dignity and freedom," Rakan, 24, said as he stood in a tent pitched by the Syrian opposition in one corner of the square. "Egyptians rallying to Tahrir always come to visit us in this ‘tent of the Syrian Revolution' and express their support for us in our struggle for democracy," he told Gulf News.
Tahrir Square was the focal point of 18 days of unprecedented protests that forced long-standing president Hosni Mubarak to step down last February. The plaza has since been a rallying point for opponents of the ruling military council that took over from Mubarak.
"The Egyptians staging a strike against the military also come to our tent and wish the Syrians a full triumph in their uprising for freedom," said Rakan, a native of the Syrian rebel city of Homs.
Hoisted atop the tent is Syria's 1946 flag of independence from France, with its distinctive green-white-black tricolour.
"Having this tent in this particular place has another symbol," added Rakan, who preferred not to give his family name for fear of reprisal by Syrian security agencies against his relatives at home.
Indiscriminate killing
"The tent, being located just few metres from the Arab League headquarters, serves as a reminder to the organisation of the Syrians' tragedy and the necessity to do more to stop the killing machine operated by [President Bashar] Al Assad against the Syrians."
"The Syrian people are facing indiscriminate massacres targeting mainly restive cities such as Homs and Hama," said Rakan, as he points to pictures of persons allegedly killed by the Syrian government forces. The images are spread across the interior of the tent, with tributes scribbled by visitors around them.
Syrian activists hold in the tent cultural gatherings and even small concerts where patriotic Syrian songs are played.
"We appeal to the Egyptian People's Assembly [parliament] to recognise the [opposition] Syrian National Council as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people," said Ahmad Hamoudi, another Syrian activist in the tent.
He also called on the Egyptian authorities to grant the Syrian exiles residing in the country an open-ended stay until "Syria becomes free".
Last week, Egypt recalled its ambassador to Syria under public pressure. Hours later, Damascus withdrew its envy from Cairo in protest. "We will continue to stay inside the tent until the Arab League halts the bloodshed in Syria and Al Assad steps down," added Hamoudi.
