Damascus, SANA- For the first time since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s criminal and oppressive regime in Syria, Syrian citizens gathered in Umayyad Square in the capital, Damascus, to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the blessed revolution. This gathering affirmed the birth of a new Syria, free from oppression and tyranny.
The celebration featured a display of hovering aircraft dropping flowers and pieces of paper inscribed with messages of victory onto the participants. This was a poignant contrast to the time of the former regime, when those same aircraft dropped barrel bombs on civilians. The scene underscored the notion that the Syrian army now serves its people, protecting and defending them.
During the celebration, participant Sila Haj Issa evoked the symbols of the revolution, such as Abdul Basset al-Sarout and others, who remain iconic figures in the history of the new Syria. They served as beacons of inspiration and motivation for the revolution’s continuity and success, despite all attempts to extinguish this flame that, through its victory, illuminated the entirety of Syrian territory.
In turn, Mohammad Shafter, who came from Germany to participate in this celebration, noted that despite the overwhelming joy filling his heart, he misses, in this moment, his brothers, friends, and relatives who took part in the Syrian revolution and were martyred—either in the prisons of the former regime or through targeted attacks during their peaceful demonstrations demanding freedom.
Rawan Ahmad from Deir Ezzor affirmed that, for her, the revolution ended with the fall of the tyrant and the Syrian people attaining their freedom. She stressed that it is now time to launch a new revolution, one centered on construction, reconstruction, combating corruption, and establishing a new social system founded on equality and justice for all components of the Syrian people.
“I want to mark the 8th of December as a new date of my birth,” said Ali Farhat, expressing his happiness at the triumph of the Syrian revolution. He described it as a rebirth for all Syrians and a decisive turning point in Syria’s history, present, and future.
Wael Abu Fadil from Daraa stated that the revolution has triumphed, but its accomplishments will not be complete without bringing the figures of the criminal regime to trial and achieving transitional justice, as a tribute to the blood of the martyrs and the injured. He added that this would mark another day of celebration for Syrians, akin to their celebration of the victory’s anniversary.
Badia Tassoun from Homs said that the joy of Syrians will not be complete without achieving peaceful coexistence, national unity, and steering away from sectarianism among the components of the Syrian people, who have proven to be united in the face of all the oppression, injustice, killing, and tyranny Syria has endured over the past years.
Abdul Wahid Abdullah al-Mohammad made sure to travel from Hasaka to Damascus on this day to participate in the celebration of the revolution’s anniversary. He explained that the entire Syrian people stand today alongside the state, the army, and the public security forces to confront the remnants of the regime’s attempts to undermine what has been achieved by spreading discord and chaos.
“The unity of Syria in its entirety and the rejection of sectarianism were among the goals of the revolution that must be preserved,” said Rana Dawood. She emphasized that Syrians have long dreamed of achieving a prosperous and dignified life, which was realized with the triumph of the revolution.
Ruaa al-Jazaeri
