The Syrian people’s century-long struggle against imperialist-imposed divisions and the oppressive Baath regime culminated on December 8, 2024, with a historic victory reclaiming their identity, freedom, and dignity.
The Syrian Revolution symbolizes a historic reclamation of identity, freedom, and unity after decades of division and oppression under imperialist influence and the Baath regime. The victory on December 8, 2024, marked the culmination of relentless resistance fueled by the awareness of martyrdom, overcoming systematic suppression, and regaining control of Damascus. This triumph, achieved through immense sacrifice, ended decades of tyranny, signified a spiritual and national rebirth, and redefined Syria as a homeland sanctified by the sacrifices of its people. However, true liberation requires not only physical victory but also the reconstruction of societal bonds and the eradication of the oppressive legacy left by the regime.
“In 1916, the artificial borders drawn with rulers by imperialists and the oppressive institutions they established divided the Syrian people and stripped them of their identity for an entire century. Enduring countless acts of oppression, this population carried the profound sorrow of being estranged from their homeland for 13 years. However, today, united by the awareness of martyrdom, they have reclaimed their place on the stage of history as a natural and noble nation. This victory is not merely the liberation of a piece of land; it marks a historic turning point in which the people have regained their identity, dignity, and freedom.”
We are witnessing a period in which the main artery of history is severed, and the truth is laid bare before us, where darkness is replaced by hope-filled optimism. The events unfolding in Syria have reignited the hopes of the Ummah of Muhammad. The tyranny of the Baath regime, akin to crafting idols from halva only to consume them, has finally been consigned to the dusty pages of history. According to Russian leader Putin, Aleppo regained its freedom through the unwavering determination of merely 350 mujahideen. With the prayers of the Ummah of Muhammad and the unshakable resolve of the mujahideen, Damascus has been reclaimed. The resolute march that began on November 25 from Idlib culminated in victory with the conquest of Damascus on December 8.
For 61 years, the Baath regime suppressed the aspirations of the people, casting a shadow over their lives and burying their dreams in graves. Ultimately, it succumbed to the resistance and pursuit of justice by the populace. Ethnic and religious groups, worn down by the oppression of the Baath regime, united under the banner of the mujahideen. December 13, 2024, marked a spiritual and historical turning point, as Friday prayers at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus became a moment etched in history. The ancient ambiance of Damascus bore witness to scenes of gratitude expressed through prostrations and prayers, celebrating newfound freedom. This moment symbolized not only the fall of a regime but also the heralding of liberation, bringing an end to decades of oppression, suffering, and tears.
For decades, the Baath regime ruled through fear and violence, suppressing society with its oppressive policies, extinguishing hope, and fragmenting the social fabric. Like an octopus, it extended its grip into education, politics, economy, and media, enslaving the public’s consciousness. However, these systematic oppressions failed to extinguish the people’s yearning for freedom and their spirit of resistance. The struggle of the Syrian people represents a century-long quest for liberation under the tyranny of imperialist powers and the Baath regime following the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. The sacrifices, martyrdoms, and losses endured since 1917 testify to the profound cost of this struggle. At last, on December 8, 2024, this fight was crowned with genuine victory. Today, Syrian mujahideen experience the pride of reclaiming the sense of security and homeland once provided by the Ottomans, for only through martyrdom can land be transformed into a true homeland.
The Assad regime was not merely a family dictatorship but also an empire of fear. Through its extensive intelligence network, it monitored every moment of the people’s lives, suppressing resistance with systematic torture in prisons. This structure imposed not only physical but also psychological shackles on society. Its ultimate goal was to sever bonds among individuals and eradicate the collective solidarity of the community. Now, the reconstruction of these bonds and the restoration of the social fabric are of critical importance. The crimes committed by the Assad regime against its own people must be continually remembered and never forgotten.
Mechanisms of Oppression in Syria: Intelligence, Prisons, and the Military
The Baath regime established a system of repression through three primary mechanisms: the intelligence network (Muhaberat), prisons, and the military. These three pillars were systematically utilized to subdue the population and propagate a regime of fear.
Muhaberat: The Institutionalized Power of Fear
Muhaberat was not an ordinary intelligence organization but a tool that institutionalized fear and obedience as instruments of governance. It was designed not only to address external threats but also to control every aspect of the people’s lives, suppress freedom at its inception, and maintain a state of perpetual submission. Muhaberat held not only bodies captive but also minds. The invisible walls it erected around the people isolated them and transformed fear into a collective consciousness. Behind these walls, neighbors, colleagues, and even family members were compelled to report one another. Betrayal ceased to be a choice; it became the price of survival.
The regime’s oppressive presence was felt on every street corner, in every home, and during every conversation. A simple walk, a casual discussion, or even a modest demand for freedom was perceived as a threat and met with brutal suppression. The greatest success of Muhaberat was the creation of a system in which individuals feared even their own thoughts. Society became enveloped by the silent cries of individuals imprisoned by fear. While the Baath regime has been physically dismantled, the mental prison created by Muhaberat continues to cast a shadow over the people. Muhaberat represents not just an intelligence apparatus but also a deeply ingrained mindset of fear, mistrust, and betrayal.
The most significant challenge facing the revolution is to completely eradicate this toxic legacy. This cannot be achieved solely by dismantling its physical structures; it requires a profound transformation of societal consciousness. Without defeating the spirit of Muhaberat, true freedom cannot be attained.
Today, Muhaberat agents still pose a threat by infiltrating revolutionary groups, fostering divisions, targeting leaders, and sowing seeds of chaos within society. Through methods such as leaking information, spreading false news, and manipulation, they actively work to undermine the unity of the people. Muhaberat remains not only an extension of past oppression but also a potential obstacle to future struggles for freedom.
Prisons: Headquarters of Oppression
One of the most fearsome instruments of the Baath regime’s oppression was its prisons, which became centers of systematic violence and torture. These prisons served not only as tools of physical control but also as psychological instruments, fostering a culture of fear and obedience over society. The repressive nature of the Baath regime was not limited to specific prison facilities but effectively transformed all of Syria into a potential prison. Muhaberat agents had the authority to detain anyone and turn any location into a makeshift prison. However, beyond this widespread oppression, the regime specifically designed certain prisons to suppress societal opposition. Among these, Sednaya Prison near Damascus stood out as a symbol of the regime’s systematic policies of violence and repression.
Sednaya Prison: A Human Slaughterhouse
Sednaya Prison became one of the most striking symbols of the Baath regime’s systematic violence and torture. According to a 2017 Amnesty International report, more than 13,000 prisoners were executed at Sednaya without any judicial process between 2011 and 2015. During this period, prisoners were subjected to not only physical torture but also starvation, sexual violence, and chemical treatments. Through such methods, the regime aimed to subdue and control not only individuals but also the entire society.
Following the liberation of Sednaya, the emergence of the “Death Register” held significant importance in documenting the regime’s crimes against humanity. These records revealed that the regime systematically executed at least 30,000 people, with the killings carried out in an organized manner. The “Death Register” not only exposed the oppressive nature of the regime but also highlighted the devastating impacts of this oppression on society.
The Military: A Shield of Sectarian Power
The Syrian military was transformed into one of the regime’s foundational pillars under the Assad family, becoming a sectarian institution. During the eras of both Hafez al-Assad and his son Bashar al-Assad, key positions within the military were predominantly filled with Alawite officers, the sect to which the Assad family belongs. This deliberate strategy ensured loyalty to the regime while severing the Sunni majority’s connection to the military. Over time, the military, which was supposed to protect the people, became a mechanism of repression and fear serving the regime’s interests.
However, the military’s role extended beyond the battlefield. It also controlled significant portions of the economy, making it a backbone of the Assad family’s power. High-ranking military officers and the Assad family maintained strict control over key economic sectors such as communications, real estate, and natural resources. This structure reinforced the regime’s economic and political power through patronage networks and state monopolies. Syria’s natural and economic resources became the de facto property of the Assad family, with the military ensuring the continuation of this system.
The military’s economic dominance not only intensified domestic repression but also enabled the regime to withstand international sanctions. For instance, between 2018 and 2019, the Syrian Central Bank transferred approximately $250 million in cash to Moscow, highlighting the Assad family’s efforts to preserve its assets amid tightened international sanctions. After the overthrow of the Assad regime by the mujahideen, Bashar al-Assad reportedly transferred large sums of money and gold to Moscow, revealing the regime’s ultimate loyalty to itself. This act underscored the regime’s self-serving nature, prioritizing its own survival over the welfare of the people and the country.
The Baath Regime: The Bloody Toll of 61 Years
- Over 500,000 lives were martyred.
- Humanity was massacred with chemical weapons:
On August 21, 2013, in Eastern Ghouta, a sarin gas attack suffocated more than 1,400 innocent people, most of them children and women. This attack remains a dark stain in the annals of human history. - Millions of people were uprooted from their homeland.
- Massacres and sectarian conflicts were fueled.
The Consciousness of Nationhood: Martyrdom
Since being forcibly severed from the Ottoman Empire, the Syrian people have suffered from policies of de-identification and division. However, with the victory achieved by the mujahideen on December 8, this people has, for the first time, attained a true consciousness of nationhood. This victory represents not merely a military triumph but a turning point in reclaiming the identity and dignity of the Syrian people.
This understanding of nationhood transcends the view of land as mere geography. That land becomes sacred, a trust consecrated by sacrifices made for its sake. The sentiments of our national poet, Mehmet Akif Ersoy, echo this feeling:
“Do not tread carelessly on this soil, for it is not mere earth; recognize it.
Consider the thousands buried beneath it, shrouded only by their bravery.
You are the child of martyrs—do not dishonor your ancestors; it would be a grave sin.
Do not surrender this paradise of a homeland, not even for the treasures of the world.”
Today, the Syrian people have transformed their country into a homeland through the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of martyrs. This homeland is not merely land; it is a sacred trust consecrated by immense sacrifice. However, such sanctity cannot endure solely through the struggles of the past. True victory lies in learning from these sacrifices and building a future founded on freedom, justice, and unity. This process of reconstruction must not only heal physical wounds but also address the deep scars left on the spirit of the people.
As the Syrian people endure the darkest days of their history, they have reignited the light of hope through the steadfast faith of the mujahideen. This light serves not only Syria but also stands as a beacon of hope for all Arab peoples resisting oppression. The Arab Spring has manifested in Syria as the “Eid of the Mujahideen.” This celebration is not only a resistance against the pains of the past but also a guide illuminating the path toward the future.
May this light, unwavering in its pursuit of truth and justice, continue its course without deviation, without fracturing Syria, and extend its journey toward the borders of Turkey’s Misak-ı Milli.
Raise your head, my Syrian brother; you now have a homeland!
