12/09/2025
🇸🇾🇸🇾🇸🇾 It has been one year since Syria’s liberation and the fall of the Assad regime, a moment that remains historic beyond measure. After decades of tyranny marked by torture, enforced disappearances, pervasive fear, and an unending catalogue of war crimes and human rights violations, the simple act of Syrians being able to protest freely on their own streets still feels extraordinary. The significance of this moment cannot be overstated.
I haven’t yet been able to return, largely because my father still has reservations about the transitional government. Whether those concerns will ultimately prove justified is still far too early to know. What is clear, however, is that the past year has brought both meaningful progress and very real challenges. The transitional authorities have achieved several important steps, but there are also legitimate concerns; concerns that deserve to be acknowledged honestly and addressed constructively. I actually attended a briefing with President Al-Sharaa and Syrian Americans during his visit to DC, and I was struck by his charisma and ability to communicate persuasively. I was grateful for the chance to be present. At the same time, it was unfortunate that the meeting was not used as an opportunity to engage more directly with questions of accountability. I sensed that certain concerns were glossed over, often with humor, in ways that, while disarming, did not meaningfully address certain core issues.
I know that transformative change does not unfold in a single year, especially after half a century of repression. No society emerging from decades of authoritarian rule and mass atrocity can transform overnight. But it would be a tragedy for Syrians, after sacrificing so much, not to continue demanding the reforms, freedoms, and justice they fought so hard to claim.
For now, I will not detail each concern, but my hope remains unwavering: that Syrians, who have endured unimaginable suffering, will finally secure the freedom, dignity, and future they deserve. A future grounded in freedom, dignity, and justice, not simply the absence of war, but the presence of rights, opportunity, and true self-determination. 🇸🇾🇸🇾🇸🇾
