Report on the Second Conference of the Workshop on National Unity and the Criminalization of Sectarianism 4o mini
The Workshop on the Criminalization of Sectarianism and the Media Office of the Syrian Revolution organized their second conference on Thursday evening, December 1, 2011, at a hotel in Cairo, under the title:
Criminalizing Sectarianism and Preserving National Unity – Affirming the Constants.
In the presence of opposition figures and leaders from various political, religious, sectarian, and regional backgrounds in Syria, they gathered with one goal: supporting the Syrian revolution and overthrowing the oppressive regime in Damascus. The attendees agreed that achieving this supreme goal can only be realized through the criminalization of sectarianism and the preservation of national unity. Therefore, the participants "valued" the importance of the workshop organized by the Media Office.
* What can I say, and the truth that follows it... is the lash of the whip and the dark, damp prison.
And if I lie, then the lie will crush me... Far be it from my Lord that a lie should be attributed to me.
And if I remain silent, then silence is a deficiency... If in silence, the light of truth is concealed.
But I, and the fate of the people drives me... I will speak the truth, whether they want it or not, and whether they are angered or not.
With these verses, Dr. Socrates Al-Baaj, Director of the Media Office of the Syrian Revolution, inaugurated the activities of the workshop, stating that the previous verses are from a poem by the fighter "Hassan Dib Al-Khair," which he composed in mourning for one of his martyred friends. This cost him his life, in addition to the horrific torture he endured, starting with the cutting of his tongue and ending with being dissolved in acid at the "Tadmor" prison.
Al-Baaj affirmed that the "Al-Assad family" is part of the global Zionist project that created sectarian strife and ignited the civil war in Lebanon. They themselves— the Al-Assad family— were the ones who sowed sectarian discord in Syria in the 1980s, and they were the ones who expelled the Palestinian resistance from Lebanon and sparked sectarian strife in Iraq. They are part of a project to weaken and fragment the Arab nation for the benefit of Israeli and global Zionism. He clarified that the downfall of the "Assad family" regime is linked to thwarting their plans to ignite sectarian discord, and that national unity is the first and last line of defense that Syrians must rely on against attempts to divide and oppress them.
* Sectarianism is rejected both religiously and nationally:
Munir Al-Ghuzban, the former General Supervisor of the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria, pointed out that sectarianism is a condemned practice and behavior according to Islam and other religions. The noble Prophet (PBUH) said about it, "Leave it, for it is foul." In the Quran, it is mentioned by Moses (PBUH) when someone from his own sect called him to support him unjustly, saying, "My Lord, because You have favored me, I will never be an ally to the criminals." The Quran, Islam, and all religions, as well as true nationalism, recognize only the alignment with justice, without consideration for sect, doctrine, or tribe.
Al-Ghuzban added that the "Assad" regime's true loyalty is to everything that keeps it in power, and it holds no loyalty to any particular sect. The evidence for this is that the Alawite sect, in the majority, suffers from poverty and a lack of services, just like the other sects, and perhaps even more so.
Al-Ghuzban conveyed the reassurances of the Muslim Brotherhood to all Syrians, regardless of their sect or political affiliations, that the Brotherhood condemns the shedding of Syrian blood in all its forms, no matter the person’s affiliation. They pledge to fight any attempts of revenge in the future "after the success of the revolution" against any sect. He emphasized that the law will be the decisive factor among all parties in the event of any proven crime or violation, and that individuals, whether "rebels or ordinary citizens," should not take the law into their own hands. This is something that cannot be accepted or allowed.
And the Brotherhood seeks a civil state based on pluralism, peaceful transfer of power, citizenship, and respect for human rights and public freedoms. This is a commitment they present to the Syrian people.
* The Alawites" disown Bashar's regime:
The prominent Syrian opposition figure, "Tawfiq Dunya," whose family resides in the "Alawite Mountains," emphasized that Bashar Al-Assad's regime does not represent the Alawite sect in any way, nor does it rule in its name. Rather, it rules by "the reality of force" and through the power of iron and fire.
Dunya criticized the absurdities and falsehoods spread by Bashar Al-Assad's media about the revolutionaries, describing them as "Salafists," "infiltrators," "agents," and "conspirators."Dunya criticized the absurdities and falsehoods spread by Bashar Al-Assad's media about the revolutionaries, describing them as "Salafists," "infiltrators," "agents," and "conspirators."
He cautioned that the real guarantee for minorities in Syria is to actively engage in the revolution and to participate alongside the revolutionaries on the ground in the revolution’s arenas.
Dunya read a statement from Alawite figures, "whom he did not name for security reasons," addressed to the Syrian people. In the statement, they expressed their condemnation of the regime and its crimes against the people. They called for the prosecution of its leaders at the International Criminal Court. They also urged the Syrian National Council to include and accommodate figures from various minorities, so that it can truly represent the full diversity of the Syrian situation.
* A National Code of Honor:
The prominent opposition figure "Aqab Yahya" announced his rejection of the system of quotas, adding, "We are democratic patriots who believe in Syria as a homeland for all, without discrimination based on religion, gender, language, ethnicity, or region. Everyone must adhere to the national code of honor, and its key points include the civil nature of the state, its democracy, combating sectarianism, and believing in human rights and public freedoms."
* The Regime's Crime:
Religion was created to serve humanity, and humans are not slaves to religion but servants of God. All religions honor human beings and prohibit the shedding of their blood, regardless of their faith. Sectarianism is against the tolerance and greatness of religions, according to "Samir Satoof," the well-known Syrian activist, whose family resides in the "Valley of the Christians." He went on to say that the regime is the main instigator of sectarian strife, which is why the "crime" of the regime is evident. It cannot remain in power except by igniting conflict, spreading hatred, and spilling blood.
* We lost communication between the ruler and the ruled since the 1949 coup.
As for "Haytham al-Maleh," the well-known politician and prominent opposition figure, he emphasized that the communication between the ruler and the ruled in Syria ended starting with the military coup of 1949. From that point on, the ruler began to rely on "force" as the foundation of governance, rather than justice or the will of the people.
He added that the regime has not been practicing politics for a long time, but rather the daily oppression of Syrians. True wisdom lies not in the ability to oppress, but in the ability to engage in dialogue with others and reach common ground. In war, the victorious army leaves a gap for the defeated army to escape through, in order to minimize casualties and losses on both sides. However, the regime in Syria has lost its reason and is no longer deterred by anything, not even religion, despite the fact that Syrians are religious and the Middle East is the cradle of the three Abrahamic religions: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.
* How do we make minorities spearheads?
The prominent activist "Bassam Ishak" called for the need to deeply study and discuss the issue of sectarianism and not just blame the Assad family. The more important task is to answer "Aqab Yahya's" question: How do we make minorities spearheads in the revolution against the regime? Ishak continued, stating that the crucial issue in Syria is that no one should feel like a second-class citizen because of their sectarian affiliation, and reassurances must be provided to minorities so they can feel secure about the future.
* National Unity is Essential for the Victory of the Revolution:
The prominent opposition figure "Fares Al-Shoufi," whose family resides in the Druze Mountain, began his speech by affirming that the national stances of the Druze have been well known for decades, since "Sultan Pasha Al-Atrash" and even before that. Napoleon Bonaparte admired the courage of the Druze in confronting the French army, just as they faced Ibrahim Pasha's army. Now, there are Druze participating in the revolution, but the regime is conducting a terrifying campaign to intimidate minorities. Therefore, it is essential to continue efforts to reassure minorities and open a continuous dialogue with everyone.
* The Battle Between Freedom and Tyranny:
The battle is clear: it is between freedom and tyranny, and it is never a battle of sects. Otherwise, the revolution would not have occurred in Egypt and Tunisia, two countries that do not recognize sects. History confirms that, in the end, victory belongs to the people and to freedom. This is what "Salim Zanjir," the Syrian opposition figure and poet, affirmed, as he recited beautiful verses from his poem titled "The Walls of Fear Have Fallen."
* Citizenship Committees:
Dr. Socrates Al-Baaj picked up the thread of the conversation, stating that he had received a suggestion from the "Syrian Coalition for Civil Peace" from inside Syria to form "National Committees" to resolve any sectarian issues in any part of Syria. Dr. Al-Baaj read a letter sent by the prominent opposition figure "Habib Issa," which included important ideas on the raised issues. He also made a note about the weak media performance of the Muslim Brotherhood and how their recent visions and positions had not reached the people.
* Recommendations:
The attendees recommended rejecting any sectarian practices and any vengeful behavior after the success of the revolution, emphasizing that "no soul shall bear the burden of another." They called on all Syrians from every sect to "elevate national affiliation" and participate in the revolution to build a civil, democratic Syria. They stressed the importance of continuing dialogue for further understanding and reaching common ground upon which to build.
By: Rida Salama
English 
Arabic