Syrians have responded positively to a speech by Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, delivered on Thursday evening, a day after his appointment.
In his address, al-Sharaa acknowledged the sacrifices of the Syrian people, remembering those killed in the country’s brutal conflict which began in 2011 as well as the detainees and the missing, speaking of the nation’s collective struggle for freedom.
The interim leader, who heads the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) armed group, began by addressing Syrians across various communities, as well as those displaced and living in camps, refugees, families of the dead, and activists.
“I speak to you not as a ruler but as a servant of our scarred nation,” he said. “To the proud people of Syria, I stand before you today with a heart filled with hope and determination, addressing my words to all Syrians, men and women.”
Acknowledging Syrian’s struggles
He reflected on Syria’s liberation from what he described as a “criminal regime” that had governed for over five decades, underscoring that this victory was a result of both internal and external struggles, while paying tribute to those who had taken part in the 2011 protests against Assad rule, those who had died in the ensuing conflict and missing detainees.
“The victory started from the throats of the protesters and the chants of the protesters in the squares and fields,” Al-Sharaa said.
“The victory started from the fingers of Hamza Al-Khateeb and the chants of the protests and the sighs of the detainees and the screams of the tortured in the prisons of Saydnaya, the Palestine branch, and Tadmor prison,” he added.
Hamza Al-Khateeb was a 13-year-old boy brutally tortured to death by Assad regime forces in 2011, after taking part in protests against the regime.
Since the Syrian uprising began in 2011, tens of thousands of Syrians have been detained or forcibly disappeared. Recently, a mass grave was discovered in Al-Qutayfah, near Damascus, containing at least 100,000 bodies of detainees.
The United Nations General Assembly established an independent body in June 2023 to investigate the fates of Syria’s missing.
During the speech, he also told the nation that his cabinet was working with legal experts to define the parameters of the transitional phase, announcing the establishment of an unelected mini-legislative council.
Gender inclusive language
The speech received praise for using gender-sensitive language, particularly its acknowledgement of the role of women in the revolution and the suffering experienced by various sectors of society.
The interim president said: “Syria was liberated by the martyrs, detainees, and by the tortured men and the tortured women, and by the missing men and the missing women and all their grieving mothers and their grieving families.
“Because of their sacrifices and the sacrifices of all of you, I stand here today to open a new chapter in the history of our beloved country.”
Despite the positive reception, some Syrians remain cautious about the implications of al-Sharaa’s presidency, especially given the ongoing challenges facing the country.
His recent appointment, which followed a closed-door conference of military representatives, marked a significant moment in Syria’s post-conflict political landscape.
Following his appointment, Al-Sharaa received official congratulatory letters from the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the Sultanate of Oman.
On Thursday, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani made a historic visit to Syria, marking the first visit by a head of state to the country since the fall of the Assad regime.
During a meeting, Sheikh Tamim called for the formation of a broad-based government that represents all segments of Syrian society.
