Slain MP Jo Cox Honored for Advocacy on Syrian Plight

Dr. Mohammad Isreb, a co-founder of the Syrian Association of Yorkshire, has honored the late MP Jo Cox, acknowledging her work in drawing attention to the difficult situation of Syrians during the rule of former President Bashar al-Assad. Dr. Isreb, who now resides and works in Bradford, hails from the Syrian port city of Latakia. According to Dr. Isreb, the former Labour MP for Batley and Spen, who was assassinated in 2016, contributed to illuminating the experiences of numerous Syrians compelled to live abroad during Assad’s government, which concluded with the president’s removal from power last week. The 42-year-old Dr. Isreb expressed his desire that Ms. Cox, a vocal advocate for Syrian opposition factions, “was still alive to see this moment.” On June 16, 2016, Ms. Cox was murdered by Thomas Mair, identified as a far-right terrorist. Dr. Isreb departed Syria in 2007 to pursue studies in Bradford, but could not go back due to security concerns. Subsequently, his two brothers, sister, and elderly parents also joined him in exile. Dr. Isreb stated that Ms. Cox had been “a big supporter of the Syrian cause.” He recalled, “She was actually calling for a no-fly zone and for opening more routes for Syrian refugees at the time.” The previous weekend, following over a decade of civil conflict that led to the displacement of approximately 14 million Syrians, the nation’s capital, Damascus, fell to the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, signifying the conclusion of Assad’s rule. Dr. Isreb commented, “I just want to actually remember Jo Cox. I wish she was still with us now to celebrate with us this big news.” Syria constituted a primary foreign policy concern for Ms. Cox, who also served as co-chair of the Friends of Syria All Party Parliamentary Group. In December 2015, she was among five Labour Members of Parliament who chose to abstain from the vote concerning air strikes targeting the so-called Islamic State in Syria. Dr. Isreb mentioned that he had recently been reflecting on a photograph of Ms. Cox from their initial encounter. “I wish she was still alive to see this moment. She believed it would happen one day and she was telling us that it will happen one day when we had lost hope,” he recounted. He added, “All I can do is think of her and wish that I could have taken her to visit my home town.”