ocr: Syria is, in practice, a single-party, national socialist state. Its mlitarybackedleader since 1971 has been President Assad, a lifelong Ba'ath Party militant, dedicated to its campaign for Arab revival. Main Political Issues Human rights The Syrian regime is under international pressure to improve its human rights record. Allegations of oppression of the country'sJews and opposition Sunni Islamic fundamentalists, and also of links with international terrorist groups are widespread. The EU has suspended aid payments until conditions improve. Political pluralism President Assad remains the domi ...
