Syrians are exhausted by the burdens of the military dictatorship, under which they have lived for more than 60 years, 54 of which were under the rule of the Assad family. According to the late opposition leader Riad al-Turk, this dynasty has turned the country into a private farm and a kingdom of silence.
The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8 was the most important turning point in the modern history of Syria. The overwhelming joy, from the north to the south of Syria, reflects the Syrians’ longing for emancipation and a life free from fear. They waited for liberty from the dominance of the security and intelligence services, which spread terror in society, stifled its breath, and prevented it from speaking out loud. They were even barred from demanding basic rights, which were taken away by the infamous emergency law, which the Baath Party imposed in 1963 and continued to enforce it, confiscating all public and political rights, freezing the independent judiciary, and replacing it with military rulings.
The Baath party regime also imposed exceptional measures and restrictions on the freedom of individuals and independent media. It even prevented the right of more than three people to meet. It also interfered in organising marriage ceremonies. Today, the historic opportunity has come to turn the page on the dark past, and build on the situation which Syria has witnessed since the start of military operations in Aleppo on November 27, including the discipline which the armed factions have shown while accomplishing the mission assigned to them. These groups did not encroach on civilians, public and private property, individual freedoms, or religious liberties, ways of worshiping, and rituals.
What gives us hope is the general discourse which accompanied the military operations regarding freedoms and the unity of society and not interfering in people’s affairs and their political and other choices or imposing cultural, religious, and national coercion. This is because Syria is a diverse, pluralistic country. This is one of the elements of its beauty, strength, sources of wealth, and symbolic cultural and social resources, which has given it a distinguished position throughout history and made it an example of coexistence.
Therefore, one of the most important tasks Syrians must undertake will be not to repeat the bad experiences, Arab and non-Arab, which preceded us in the transition from dictatorship to democracy. This demands that the priority be given to end the divisions which the rule of the Assad family has established, whether sectarian, cultural or regional. The way to achieve this is to reject revenge, retaliation and exclusion, and to promote the unity of society and build a new Syria which is open to all its people.
Dreaming is not wrong as much as it is based on positivity, balance of the experiences of Syrians inside and outside their country. Syrians have faced one of the most brutal regimes. Whatever happened with them, their flame of freedom and dreams of liberation from tyranny did not die. Their experience in exile presented a bright image of their ability to adapt, be patient and build. What is required today is capital and drives to return to the country to contribute to its reconstruction.
Syrian civil society has the capability to build institutions and achieve significant successes.
[by Basheer Al Baker in Al-Araby Al-Jadeed]
Compiled and translated by Faizul Haque