KURDWATCH, January 15, 2012—On January 11, 2012, Arab League observers visited several Kurdish cities. In al-Qamishli, Syrian security forces escorted them to a pro-Assad demonstration organized by the regime and prevented them from observing the dissident protests. In ʿAmudah, Syrian security forces also accompanied the observers. However, unlike in al-Qamishli in ʿAmudah the observer contingent was received by a large number of dissident demonstrators who demanded the overthrow of the president.