Enab Baladi – Hussam al-Mahmoud
With the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024, fears arose of a security breakdown and retaliatory actions against various social components in Syria due to the support of some of its members for the previous regime.
A month after the liberation, measures were taken to prevent bloodbaths, which the Assad regime warned its supporters about if it lost power. These measures included establishing security checkpoints and centers for the General Security Service under the new Syrian administration, in addition to the inclusive national discourse presented by the new administration, which was embraced by educated groups in Syrian society.
Despite discussions about the mentality of state-building and transitioning from revolution to reconstruction, this period was not free of violations and transgressions that somewhat disrupted the scene of civil peace, without reaching a point of explosion.
In the third week after the regime’s fall, video recordings emerged showing violations against individuals who were detained by the Military Operations Administration and accused of committing violations against the Syrian people. They were also accused of being “shabiha” (thugs), and these violations included insults and slurs without passing through the normal framework of trials that the Syrians demanded, contradicting the new administration’s statements in Syria, represented by Ahmed al-Sharaa, who stated after entering Damascus that it was “a breakthrough with no revenge.”
These violations, which faced human rights criticisms, also appeared when the new authorities executed a security campaign to purge areas in Homs, central Syria. However, the authorities urged residents after the campaign to file complaints about the violations that occurred, to restore rights to their owners.
Unruly behaviors
A state of spontaneous and also fabricated social tension appeared in several instances, fueled by undisciplined behaviors in one place and uncalculated statements in another. The burning of the Christmas tree in the city of Sqeelbiya during the Christmas season was enough to push segments of the Christian community into the streets, raising religious slogans that were not free from hints of violence and escalation. This was met with rational voices of rejection from the Christian community itself, represented by statements from Father Spiridon Tannous, who opposed sectarian rhetoric, indicating that no member of the church had faced any violation.
He also pointed out that establishing security requires time, and protests should be for building Syria, as the country is being reborn.
The same Christian clergyman responded to statements made by Bishop Youhanna Jihad Battah, the bishop of the Syrian Catholics, who considered Bashar al-Assad to be a “victim,” questioning video recordings that emerged regarding the Sednaya prison, and denying the existence of mass graves established by the previous regime for Syrians.
Father Spiridon Tannous called for the trial of “Assad’s bishops,” as they served as cover for al-Assad’s crimes against millions of Syrians, and continue to do so, in his view.
While there are voices discussing the events with sectarian dimensions and in a language that does not serve the achievement of civil peace in Syria, there are also opposing voices that condemn these statements and refute them. After the security tensions that occurred in the countryside of Latakia due to abduction and murder cases carried out by unknowns, an individual named Adnan Mansour hinted at the demand for international protection and French protection for the Syrian coast, seeking support from Alawite clergymen in Turkey. The next day, a statement from the Sheikhs of the Qardaha area in Latakia’s countryside distanced themselves from Mansour’s calls and denied any connection to him after he claimed that the sheikhs of the sect were aware of what he was saying and supported his position.
The Sheikhs also refuted the news claiming the killing of Alawite individuals for being Alawite, acknowledging that some incidents might have their causes and are not linked to the Military Operations Administration, condemning calls for foreign intervention in Syrian affairs, with a legitimate authority representing the people.
Attempts for dialogue
On January 15, the first community meeting to promote civil peace convened after a series of meetings with representatives from the new administration. The meeting was held in Homs and addressed enhancing civil peace, transparency, and the language of discourse.
Enab Baladi obtained the outcomes of the meeting, which included mentioning the legacy of the previous regime in sowing fear and community division, along with the security and economic crises that hinder public thinking. The recommendations in this regard focused on common values such as justice and freedom, adopting transitional justice as the foundation for national reconciliation, and formulating an inclusive national discourse that recognizes sub-identities.
The second segment of the meeting addressed community security, disarmament, and addressing violations, acknowledging that the spread of arms among civilians threatens security, alongside the absence of laws that criminalize sectarian discourse and violations. It was recommended to confine arms to the state through peaceful means, activate the judiciary to ensure accountability, and enhance cooperation between security forces and residents in achieving security.
The meeting also discussed the role of youth and women in civil peace processes, noting the absence of youth in decision-making, and the ongoing violence and discrimination against women. Recommendations called for economically and politically empowering women, abolishing discriminatory laws, and involving youth in civil work and community leadership, in addition to strengthening community initiatives to reinforce ties between components.
The fourth section of the meeting discussed building a citizen state, focusing on the weak communication between the government and the community, and the absence of laws to protect the rights of marginalized groups. Recommendations included creating effective communication channels between the government and the community, drafting a constitution that reflects the aspirations of all Syrians, and providing support for the disabled through comprehensive policies and specialized institutions.
General recommendations from the meeting included enhancing transparency and accountability in national discourse, confining arms to the state and activating transitional justice, supporting economic and political empowerment projects for women and youth, ensuring the rights of the disabled through clear policies, and enhancing the role of civil society to achieve civil peace.
This meeting was attended by political, civil, and community figures from all sections of society in Homs, with approximately 200 participants, while the new authority was notably absent.
Maen Saleh, a member of the civil peace group in the neighborhoods of Homs, told Enab Baladi that the statements issued at the beginning of the liberation all indicate support for the new leadership, emphasizing civil peace, security, and the necessity of holding accountable those involved in Syrian bloodshed through fair, transparent trials.
He also mentioned the attempt to initiate serious and responsible dialogue among all segments of Homs’ civil society after years of oppression and fear, following the increase in sectarian division in Syria, and the effort to establish channels of communication with the new political leadership in Homs “to present to it everything that concerns us and the street, and to alleviate, as much as possible, the existing tension.”
Role of authority
Syrian lawyer Ghazwan Kurunful believes that the current authority should direct a message to the society clarifying its general policies first and its policies towards perpetrators of crimes and violations, affirming its rejection of the policy of revenge in favor of justice and transparent trials.
Kurunful pointed to a general concern regarding the authority’s directions, as its discourse at upper levels differs from behaviors at lower levels, sending signals that evoke mistrust, according to what he mentioned to Enab Baladi. Thus, he urged that general conduct should align with the essence of its statements and policies.
He called for transparency and clarification regarding the authority’s decisions, explaining the reasons behind them, and affirming that the matter is not related to settling accounts with any group but rather has legal justifications.
“Lack of clarity and transparency and basing decisions on their reasons can provoke interpretations that may be erroneous and cause tensions that could potentially develop into confrontations,” according to Kurunful’s opinion.
Syria is still moving into its second month following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, during which time the country witnesses a climate of activity and political discussions open on the ground and through social media. These discussions revolve around any phenomenon, political decision, or behavior in the street that expresses or does not express the Syrians, leading to divided opinions between agreement and disagreement, without eliminating a hidden joy in opening doors that had been closed for decades regarding issues and topics concerning a nation attempting to shape its future by itself.