Social Media Monitor: Syrian Pound Reaches All Time Low

The Syrian pound dropped to an unprecedented low on Monday, June 17, when the dollar was traded, for the first time, at around 200 Syrian pounds. A correspondent of The Damascus Bureau who lives in a government-controlled district of Aleppo reported that jewelers and owners of electrical appliances stores are now only accepting payments in dollar. Reuters also reported that Syrians are buying dollars in order to protect their savings.

Activist and filmmaker Orwa Nyrabia commented on his Facebook page, saying:

The dollar is at 200 pounds… it seems that the value of the currency drops whenever that of human life value drops, too
The dollar is at 200 pounds… it seems that the value of the currency drops whenever that of human life value drops, too

Activist Kinan Kouja poked fun at some the reactions both regime supporters and opponents had rate. He wrote on his Facebook page:

…the best explanation is that the value of the dollar went up because it's rare, since Qatar stopped sending dollars [into Syria], which means that the world, freemasonic conspiracy has failed …What is even better is [regime opponents] telling you that the collapse of the pound means the collapse of the economy, and hence the collapse of the regime…
…the best explanation is that the value of the dollar went up because it’s rare, since Qatar stopped sending dollars [into Syria], which means that the world, freemasonic conspiracy has failed …What is even better is [regime opponents] telling you that the collapse of the pound means the collapse of the economy, and hence the collapse of the regime…

Execution video

A video that was first published on YouTube on Tuesday, June 18 shows bearded men beheading a man then shooting two blindfolded women before all three are thrown into a ditch. The video, which has been republished several times, features the slogan of the Baath party. The first YouTube channel that published the video, Aleppo Eagle, titled it as “Execution of a man and two women by Al-Nusra Front in the countryside of Aleppo”. Several tweeters also reposed the video while holding Al-Nusra responsible for the execution.

"Breaking …hurtful… a criminal execution of a young man and two women in the Aleppo countryside by Al-Nusra Front"
“Breaking …hurtful… a criminal execution of a young man and two women in the Aleppo countryside by Al-Nusra Front”

YouTube channels that support the opposition republished the video, saying that Baath militiamen carried out the execution.

Some comments on YouTube also accused Jabhat Al-Nusra while others accused the regime of the accusation. Most comments included slander against either Sunnis or Shia.

No party has claimed responsibility for the execution so far

Reactions to Rohani’s election
In his first press conference after his election as the president of Iran, Hassan Rohani stated on Monday, June 17 that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should remain in power until the end of his mandate in 2014.

Before this announcement, some opposition activists expressed optimism that the election of Rohani, described as a “reformist”, would put a limit to Iran’s intervention in Syria.
Pro-opposition writer Mustafa Hadid commented on this wave of optimism. He wrote on his Facebook page:

Don’t be hopeful about Rohani's election; from experience, in Iran's mullahs [regime], those who are called "reformist" are more malicious and deviant than hardliners.
Don’t be hopeful about Rohani’s election; from experience, in Iran’s mullahs [regime], those who are called “reformist” are more malicious and deviant than hardliners.

Palestinian columnist at the Jordanian daily Ad-Dustoor Yasser Zaatreh tweeted:

It's certain that Rohani's election was not good news for Hezbollah's leadership. During some of election rallies, his supporters renewed the slogan from 2009 'neither Lebanon nor Gaza'…
It’s certain that Rohani’s election was not good news for Hezbollah’s leadership. During some of election rallies, his supporters renewed the slogan from 2009 ‘neither Lebanon nor Gaza’…


Morsi cut ties with Damascus

Egyptian President Mohammad Morsi declared in a speech last week that Egypt is cutting diplomatic ties with the Syrian government. The Syrian embassy in Cairo was also closed, leaving many Syrian who need travel documents stuck in Egypt.

An Islamic Syrian armed group called Liwaa Al-Aqsa (Al-Aqsa Mosque Brigade) thanked Egypt for its move against the Syrian government in a YouTube video.

Aljazeera’s Syrian talk show host Faisal al-Qassem thanked Morsi for hosting Syrians. He tweeted:

Thank you President Morsi for calling on the Egyptian people to honour Syrians in Egypt. Egypt and Egyptians have always been generous.
Thank you President Morsi for calling on the Egyptian people to honour Syrians in Egypt. Egypt and Egyptians have always been generous.

Syria’s Muslim Brotherhood group also greeted the Egyptian move. A tweet from the official Twitter of the group reads:

President Morsi's speech opened the doors of hope in the hearts of millions of Syrians who have been hurt by the international community's consensus to let them down and belittle their [suffering]
President Morsi’s speech opened the doors of hope in the hearts of millions of Syrians who have been hurt by the international community’s consensus to let them down and belittle their [suffering]

A comment by a certain Khaled M.D.: “It only opened your pathetic mouths so that this farce of words continues.”

Activist Eiad Charbaji suggested that the praise of Morsi was exaggerated. He wrote on his Facebook page, saying:

We thanked Morsi and it's enough; the situation doesn’t need all of this empty praise. It's obvious that he based his position on the latest moves taken by Gulf countries and the USA to arm the [rebels]; he has always stood publicly against the revolution, being Iran lowly follower…
We thanked Morsi and it’s enough; the situation doesn’t need all of this empty praise. It’s obvious that he based his position on the latest moves taken by Gulf countries and the USA to arm the [rebels]; he has always stood publicly against the revolution, being Iran lowly follower…