Can I ask what leads you to believe that Syrians were oppressed? If by oppressed you mean that Syria was the only secular, nonsectarian and united country in the Near East, and civilians had free healthcare, free education all the way through a doctorate degree, no GMO's allowed in the country, no debt to the IMF, equality in education and the workplace for men and women. Religious tolerance and appreciation. A country where Christians did not feel persecuted, their church's were not desecrated, you probably didn't know if your neighbor was Shi'a or Sunni. Where Christians, Muslims, Jews, atheists, etc all lived peacefully. If that's oppressive to you.. then we have different definitions of the word.

Of course, this was all until a CIA staged uprising took place, and before Syria was invaded, raped, killed, destroyed by foreign countries led by the US. Before over 350k foreign mercenaries came into Syria to fight in this imposed war from over 80 countries. Before Syria was punished for not agreeing to a gas pipeline deal, and not bending over backwards to please it's neighbor "Israel". This is all before 2011, when Syria was one of the safest countries in the world.. yes.. Syria.. was safe, it was beautiful, it was inclusive, it was self sufficient, it was growing, it was prospering all in it's own way.. maybe not to Western standards but it sure as hell was what the majority of Syrians wanted.