It is a very quiet neighborhood whose silence is occasionally broken by church festivals or house parties where everyone in the neighborhood is invited.

FORBES: Early-Stage Opportunities For Growth

Syria's neighbours, whose long silence reflected fears that Mr Assad's fall might cause more trouble than his survival, seem to have changed their minds.

ECONOMIST: Syria and the region

Though in Europe and America they haven't resorted to systematic murder (yet), they are well on their way to silence those whose views they dislike - and they have no shortage of post-Christian bureaucrats, judges, journalists and lawyers to aid them.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: The Islamist attack on free speech