UNBLOCK SYRIA - PRESS KIT & TALKING POINTS
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Website: unblocksyria.com


ABOUT THE PROJECT
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Unblock Syria is a grassroots initiative tracking which global services remain
blocked in Syria and advocating for their removal now that international
sanctions have been lifted.


KEY FACTS
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- The Assad regime fell in December 2024
- The EU lifted all sanctions on Syria in early 2025
- The U.S. followed with comprehensive sanctions relief in 2025
- Despite this, most major tech companies have NOT updated their policies
- 300+ services are being tracked on unblocksyria.com


THE PROBLEM
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Even though Syria is no longer under international sanctions, millions of
Syrians still cannot access essential services:

- ChatGPT: Blocked
- Slack: Blocked
- Udemy: Blocked
- Coursera: Blocked
- Apple: Syria is not even in the country selection list

The legal justification for blocking Syria no longer exists. What remains
is corporate inertia.


COMPANIES THAT HAVE UNBLOCKED (Wall of Fame)
--------------------------------------------

Some companies have already done the right thing:

- Cloudflare
- GitHub
- Linear

They read the news. They updated their policies. It's that simple.


CORE MESSAGE
------------

"Syria is free. The sanctions are lifted. The legal excuse is gone.
What's left is inertia. We're here to change that."


HOW PEOPLE CAN HELP
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- 30 seconds: Vote on which services Syrians need most
- 5 minutes: Email a company using ready-made templates
- 1 conversation: Tell someone at a blocking company about the site
- A few hours/week: Join as a moderator to help verify reports


SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS
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When discussing Unblock Syria:

1. Lead with the human impact
   "There's a student in Damascus who can't access online courses. A developer
   who can't use the same AI tools as everyone else. Someone who can't even
   create an iCloud account with a Syrian phone number."

2. Emphasize the legal change
   "The EU and U.S. have officially lifted sanctions on Syria. The documentation
   is public. There is no longer any legal requirement to block Syrian users."

3. Focus on momentum
   "Some companies have already unblocked - Cloudflare, GitHub, Linear. Every
   company that unblocks makes the next one easier to convince."

4. Highlight the simple ask
   "We're not asking companies to do anything complicated. Just update their
   policies to reflect the new legal reality."

5. Call to action
   "Visit unblocksyria.com. Vote, share, or reach out to companies directly.
   One conversation can unlock access for millions."


DO SAY
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- "Syria is rebuilding and needs access to global tools"
- "Sanctions have been lifted - this is a policy update, not a legal risk"
- "Companies like GitHub and Cloudflare have already unblocked"
- "We're tracking 300+ services to create accountability"
- "Every vote and share builds momentum for change"


DON'T SAY
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- Don't make this about politics or take sides on Syrian internal affairs
- Don't shame companies aggressively - focus on the path forward
- Don't exaggerate the legal situation - be accurate about what changed
- Don't promise companies will unblock immediately - this takes time


HASHTAGS
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#UnblockSyria #Syria #TechForGood #DigitalInclusion


CONTACT
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Website: unblocksyria.com


MEDIA ASSETS
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This folder contains:

- /images/ - Social media graphics (Instagram stories, LinkedIn cover)
- /logos/ - Syrian flag assets (SVG format)


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Last updated: January 2025
