Two protest rallies staged in Damascus against motorbikers

DAMASCUS, Aug. 03 (YPA) – Two simultaneous protest rallies were staged in in Umayyad Square and in front of the province building of the Syrian capital Damascus on Sunday.

In the rallies, the participants denounced the decision to impound motorcycles issued by local authorities, in which they considered a direct blow to their only source of livelihood, amid a stifling economic crisis and a near-total lack of alternatives.

The protesters raised their voices, demanding justice before imposing the obligation, considering that the decision did not take into account the deteriorating living conditions, and that it constituted collective punishment targeting the poor.

These actions coms at a time when the country is being experienced a rapid deterioration in living standards, with rising fuel prices, scarcity of public transportation, and a large segment of citizens relying on motorcycles as their primary means of work and transportation.

For its part, the local authorities considered the decision as a necessary security measure following the increased use of motorcycles in targeting and assault operations during the recent period, which was described as a pretext to punish innocent people and deprive them of their livelihood.
AA