SUMMARY

The uprising in Syria has been going on for a year. From the very start, government forces responded violently to peaceful demonstrations. Armed opposition elements became increasingly more active throughout the fall of 2011, and this triggered an even more brutal response from government forces. More than 8000 people are believed to have died so far, and thousands have been arrested. Mistreatment and torture of arrestees is widespread. Anyone who is somehow linked to the opposition movement is at risk of being killed or arrested. In the violence struck areas, even people who have not taken part in the uprising have been affected. More than 100 000 people are believed to be internally displaced and tens of thousands have fled to Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey.