A call to all Syrian women and men at the Fourth Conference for the Workshop on Criminalizing Sectarianism.

A call to all Syrian women and men.
In the Workshop on National Unity and the Criminalization of Sectarianism.
The Fourth Meeting (The Future of Syria: Consensus on Challenges and Solutions)

The Workshop on National Unity and the Criminalization of Sectarianism held its fourth meeting in Cairo on July 17–18, 2012, under the title: “The Future of Syria: Consensus on Challenges and Solutions.” The participants issued a statement and a set of recommendations, and they addressed an appeal to all Syrians to stand united against any acts of retaliation or religious and sectarian divisions. They emphasized the necessity of preserving security, public property, and the safety of citizens and their possessions. Below is the text of the appeal:
The participants in the Workshop on National Unity and the Criminalization of Sectarianism in Cairo address the Syrian people, including members of the military and security forces, calling upon them to exercise vigilance, caution, and self-restraint in light of the circumstances and developments unfolding in our country—particularly in our great capital, Damascus. They stress the necessity of preserving security, public property, and the safety of all citizens and their possessions, and of preventing any form of retaliatory actions or escalations, regardless of their causes or justifications. They further urge that all perpetrators be held accountable under the rule of law, in order to safeguard the dignity of the Syrian people and the future of our children and our country.
We appeal to your Syrian patriotism—defined by freedom, dignity, justice, equality, and the rule of law—to stand united for the sake of Syria, the Syria for which the martyrs gave their lives, for which the wounded, the detainees, and the displaced among our people have endured immense suffering. Standing for Syria means reaffirming the stance of our people and our youth who launched the revolution under its principal slogan: “One, One… The Syrian People Are One,” a slogan that embodies the rejection of all divisions, especially religious and sectarian ones.
Now, as we approach the triumph of the Syrian people's freedom and dignity, we call upon your patriotism to strengthen the unity of our people and their rightful claim to a life of dignity—a demand that your demonstrations raised, that your voices chanted with strength and determination, and that your hands applauded with unwavering hope.

Cairo, July 19, 2012