Damascus, Aug. 24 (SANA) The Abu Rummaneh Cultural Center in Damascus held a seminar Sunday titled “Daraya: Icon of the Revolution and Fortress of Steadfastness” to mark the 14th anniversary of the Daraya massacre, as part of a series documenting Syria’s national memory and key stages of the Syrian Revolution.
The Daraya massacre took place between August 20 and 25, 2012, when forces of the Assad regime carried out a military operation in the city of Daraya in Damascus countryside. Human rights groups reported that between 320 and 700 people were killed, including more than 60 children.
A city’s memory against oblivion
The seminar reviewed events in Daraya, including military operations and widespread violations, highlighting the city as a major stage in the Syrian Revolution and the deep wounds left in national memory.
Participants discussed the Daraya massacre as one of the major massacres that embodied resilience and commitment to freedom, highlighting its humanitarian and social impact and the importance of preserving victims’ and survivors’ testimonies and documenting that period.
The seminar stressed that preserving testimonies and documents helps transfer memory across generations and supports transitional justice and accountability for those involved in violations.
Culture safeguards national memory
The event emphasized the role of cultural centers in documenting Syrians’ experiences during the past years and making them available to researchers, interested audiences and younger generations.
It also recalled the victims and residents’ suffering, seeking to keep Daraya present in public awareness through a cultural and historical approach centered on human experience.
The “Memory of the Damascus Revolution” series connects individual testimony with collective memory, turning annual remembrance into an ongoing documentation project that allows future generations to learn about a pivotal period in Syria’s modern history.
Remembering victims, protecting the future
On the 14th anniversary of the massacre, the seminar reaffirmed that preserving memory is not merely about recalling the past, but also a responsibility toward the future.
It stressed that victims’ and survivors’ testimonies and documents related to the events form part of the history that must be preserved and documented, safeguarding Syrians’ right to know what happened and fostering collective awareness that rejects the repetition of violations.
Testimony shields history from distortion
Omar Khashini, deputy director of the Daraya area, told SANA that commemorating the anniversary underscores the cultural and moral responsibility to document the experiences of victims and the wider community.
He said such documentation contributes to building a historical narrative based on testimonies, documents and the living memory of those who witnessed that period.
Khashini stressed the role of current generations in carrying the full narrative and protecting it from distortion and oblivion, describing it as a responsibility they bear on behalf of the martyrs and victims who made great sacrifices to raise their voice and fully liberate Syria.
Daraya’s story beyond traditional records
Hossam al-Lahham, who worked as a field medic in Daraya, stressed the importance of preserving Syria’s collective national memory, particularly the memory of cities that witnessed major events, and of collecting testimonies and preserving them within an integrated historical context.
He said the “Memory of the Damascus Revolution” series provides an intellectual space to revisit key stages of the Revolution, document their humanitarian, social and political dimensions and give younger generations access to testimonies and experiences not documented in traditional references.
Years of siege etched into Syrian memory
Al-Lahham said Daraya holds a special place in Syrian memory because it endured years of siege, shelling and humanitarian suffering, making its name central to discussions about the history of the Revolution and the violations that accompanied it.
The event marks another step in efforts to preserve Syria’s national memory and keep Daraya’s experience alive as testimony to the suffering endured by Syrians and to the ability of national memory to resist oblivion and preserve the details of events for future generations.
R.D/MF
