In a suspiciously organized campaign, symbols from Bashar Assad’s regime, including Shabiha and Syrian secularists opposed to the rulings of Islamic law, gathered on December 19 in the courtyard of the Omayyad Mosque, demanding the establishment of a "civil secular state" following Bashar's downfall.
Counter-Revolution Exposed
Those who appeared as signs of a counter-revolution were uncovered by Syrians who exposed their identities on social media, revealing that they are supporters of Bashar. They are being mobilized by internal factions of the remnants of the Shabiha and other external parties hostile to the Islamic Syrian revolution.
Disrupting the Revolution
They staged a protest to disrupt the joy of Syrians regarding the revolution and attempted to impose a non-Islamic agenda on it, exploiting the spirit of tolerance that the revolutionaries uphold, along with their acceptance of all sects and their affirmation that Syria will be a free, independent, democratic state governed by institutions.
Secular Slogans
It was noteworthy that the protestors did not raise the new revolutionary flag and chanted slogans demanding secularism and a civil state that is not Islamic. Then, Syrian activists published their pictures, dressed in Bashar Assad’s army uniforms, to expose them and reveal their intentions, indicating that their promotion of secular slogans is merely a way to sow chaos within the plans of counter-revolutions. When a young lawyer stepped out from among the revolutionaries and delivered a short speech calling for the crowds to chant for a "free Syria," they refused and chanted slogans calling for "secularism."
Social Media Exposure
However, they were soon exposed through social media, revealing that they were symbols of the previous regime who exploited the reconciliatory language exhibited by the leaders of the revolution to raise demands that are hostile to the nature of the Syrian people, such as secularism and a state that does not adhere to Islamic law.
Western Media Coverage
What stands out in these protests is the Western media and the media of counter-revolutionary countries intensively covering them in an unprecedented manner, aiming to show that there is a trend rejecting Syria's transformation into an Islamic state, under the pretext that this incites hostility from the West and "Israel."
Why Now?
Orchestrated Timing
It was clear that the gathering of a few dozen (about 250) Syrians who assembled to demand a secular state that legalizes prostitution and alcohol and prevents the ruling of Islamic law was orchestrated to coincide with the arrival of European and American delegations to Syria to meet with Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of the new Syrian leadership. Western media outlets, such as the "BBC," sought to embarrass him with questions regarding his stance on the hijab, drinking alcohol, and why he refused to take a photo with a non-hijab-wearing Syrian girl, insisting that she wear a head covering, although the girl stated that it is his right to take photos that suit him.
Western Interests
Western delegations visited Syria to focus on ensuring their interests in the country’s future, such as ensuring that the new regime does not harbor animosity towards "Israel" and guaranteeing the rights of minorities that the West supports, such as pro-American Christians and Kurds who act as mercenaries aligned with groups like "SDF."
Suspicious Timing
Moreover, these protests came at another suspicious time when Western and Arab parties sought to mitigate the impact of the armed Syrian revolution on the balance of power in the region by calling for a peaceful, inclusive political transition, but under the auspices of the United Nations, thus allowing major powers to control Syria's future. The suspicious invitation was issued following meetings in the Jordanian city of Aqaba, attended by the U.S. Secretary of State and foreign and Arab ministers, demanding a return to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution No. (2254), which centered around negotiations between the rebels and Bashar al-Assad’s regime under international sponsorship. Meanwhile, the role of Bashar's regime has ended, and there is no justification for returning to this resolution.
UN Guardianship
From the statements made in Aqaba, it is understood that Syria is being placed under the guardianship of the United Nations, tying the future of the revolution and the removal of Bashar al-Assad's regime to the outdated UN Security Council Resolution No. (2254). This resolution was specifically related to Assad's doomed regime and has now become a matter of history; thus, it was rejected by the commander of the General Command of the new political administration, Ahmad al-Shara, during his meeting with the UN envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen.
Secular Slogans in Damascus
It was notable that the arrival of foreign delegations coincided with a gathering of individuals who raised secular slogans in front of the Damascus Sword monument in the central Umayyad Square, carrying banners and chanting slogans in defense of a strong and diverse civil society in a secular country that respects all religious sensitivities. It is well known that secularism, democracy, human rights, minorities, freedom, diversity, and civil society are the winning cards that the West uses to intervene in Arab and Islamic affairs and impose their guardianship, while they turn a blind eye to cases like the genocide in Gaza and the crimes of Zionist occupation.
"Don't Dream of a Secular State"
Islamists' Sacrifices
Many Syrian activists emerged to tell those who protested: "Don't dream of a secular state," explaining this with simple matters related to the fact that those who succeeded and achieved freedom for all the Syrian people are the Islamists. They are the ones who endured killing and displacement, while these secularists—if their manipulation to justify their counter-revolution were correct—were supporters of Assad. They stated that those who have shed blood, become martyrs, faced imprisonment, and were forced into exile will never accept this secularism, drinking alcohol, or distancing themselves from religion.
Rebels' Decision
Syrians responded to the dubious secularists' demonstration by raising banners in Umayyad Square in Damascus that read: “We trust those who liberated us... Those who liberate are the ones who decide”; meaning that the rebels are the ones deciding Syria's identity and its Islamic system because they are the ones who liberated it.
Supporters of Bashar
Among those present at the invitation for secularism at the demonstrations were figures identified as supporters of Bashar, including atheists who had backed the bloody massacres committed by the regime in Syria. Activists shared photos of them previously dressed in military garb.
Irony of Officers' Participation
The greatest irony was the appearance of officers from the Assad regime, known for their roles in killing Syrians, who joined the demonstration for known purposes. Some of them saw the demonstration as an opportunity to identify themselves through activists and were later arrested, as revealed by the revolutionary committees.
Outdated Schools
Within the secularists' demonstration, a banner appeared calling for the opening of outdated schools that had been closed in Syria for 14 years, just nine days after the revolution had liberated them; this drew the ridicule of Syrians, who remarked: as if ballet and dancing are essentials of life and necessities!
Contradictions in the Demonstration
However, these manifestations revealed that the demonstration was a gathering of all the Syrian contradictions to express their rejection of any Islamic system governing the new Syria. The Syrian media figure Rola Haidar responded to the opposition of Assad's remnants in Damascus, saying: "You want to open a ballet school while people are still searching for the bodies of their children who were killed in Assad's prisons?!" Meanwhile, the new Syrian government denied that it had closed any ballet school, while Syrians stated that raising this slogan was among the hastily collected slogans to tarnish the revolution.
Warnings About Secularists
Syrians wrote warnings about these individuals, saying: "Beware of them and monitor them, for there are no real secularists in Syria. Most of them raise the banner of secularism, while the majority are remnants of the fallen regime, including its militias, informants, and affiliates, some of whom were jailers." They added: "Monitor them closely, and do not allow them to infiltrate the revolution with false secular slogans that appear secular on the surface but are sectarian and thuggish at their core."
The Mufti of Syria Supports Secularism
Mocking the Secularist Demonstration
Syrians mock the secularist demonstration, noting that those who came out to protest against the revolution but found nothing but outdated slogans like secularism and women's freedom were not allowed to raise these slogans during Assad's rule. Although the regime announced its acceptance of the idea when the West attempted to impose a new governance equation in Syria in 2015, it failed. When the Syrian revolutionaries achieved victories in 2015 and approached Aleppo and Damascus, before Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia supported Assad's regime, the Assad-loyal Mufti stated that a secular constitution would be established for Syria within six months under his patronage.
Secular Constitution Proposal
Assad's Statement in Latakia
On November 29, 2015, in Latakia, Assad's birthplace, he stated that they reject the United Nations plan proposed by the U.S. regarding free elections and a referendum under UN sponsorship, and they would draft a new secular constitution. He affirmed that the new constitution would state that Syria is a secular country; as it is a secular state and does not conflict with religious institutions because secularism is a political system that safeguards people's rights.
Mufti's Claims on Secularism
The Mufti claimed that secularism in Syria was not against religion but rather served it, as neither religion imposes itself on the law nor law on the state, which is what you will see in the new constitution!
Nevertheless, Assad's regime retreated from proposing this secular idea that it sought to appease the West with in 2015 when it was supported by the Iran-Russia axis, which prevented the collapse of his rule, and returned to dictatorial governance for all. Thus, it was surprising that Bashar's supporters returned to raise the same (secular) demands after the collapse of his rule to prevent the revolution from adopting its true Islamic identity.
