Syrian Politicians and Academics: Rejecting dialogue will deepen the crisis

In a call for national responsibility, Syrian academics, activists, and politicians insist that the burden of rebuilding a new Syria—one that embraces all its components and respects their rights—rests solely on Syrians themselves. They stress the urgency of fostering understanding and engagement through forums and discussions rather than resorting to military solutions, which would only drag the country deeper into turmoil.

 Sivart Salloum, the civil engineer and community activist, underscores the pivotal role of active citizenship in shaping the country’s future. She states: "If we are to discuss the most viable vision for Syria, we must adopt a comprehensive approach that unites all components of our society. True citizenship does not mean the dominance of one group at the expense of others, nor does it justify marginalization."

 Reflecting on Syria’s political trajectory, Salloum points to the entrenched challenges inherited from previous decades: "The difficulties we face today are the direct result of policies built over years, where every group struggled to assert itself while fearing obliteration due to exclusionary politics."

 Salloum emphasizes the need to break free from this cycle of fear: "We must move beyond this apprehension and navigate this critical phase through inclusive conferences and open discussions—ones where all voices are heard, without exclusion. Only then can we forge a new Syria, free from the divisive, sectarian, and separatist tendencies that have plagued our past."

  Salloum highlighted the complexity of decentralization, emphasizing that while it is a broad concept, Syria should not blindly replicate international models. Instead, she stressed the need to draw lessons from global experiences in the humanitarian sphere while crafting a unique political and military system that fully safeguards Syrians' rights.

 “For me, decentralization is something we must work on, but its immediate implementation is premature. We need to first establish the proper foundations before putting it into practice.”

 Salloum distinguished between military and administrative decentralization, outlining a clear vision for national security: “Military decentralization means complete disarmament across Syrian territory, with all weapons directed toward protecting the country’s borders—Syria’s fundamental pillar of sovereignty.”

 “Administrative decentralization, on the other hand, is essential and was already outlined in our constitution, though it was distorted under the previous regime," she added.

 Salloum identified participatory governance as the key to Syria’s future stability, arguing that no single faction can unilaterally decide the nation’s fate,“Syria’s future cannot be determined without thorough studies and inclusive discussions with all its components. At this critical juncture, we need a governance model that ensures shared power among all parties.”

 She called for broad-based participation in drafting the constitution, military councils, and economic and social frameworks, declaring that such an approach is the only viable path toward a comprehensive national vision.

 Fadi Ismail, the regional director of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party in Aleppo, shared his vision for a new Syria. He declared: “Syria has emerged from the catastrophic state imposed by the defunct Assad regime—the era of Ba'athist authoritarianism and intelligence domination. We aspire to a peaceful transition of power toward a new political reality.”

 Ismail stressed the necessity of engaging all Syrian factions in the nation’s reconstruction, ensuring their full rights and representation. “After all this chaos, Syria cannot be rebuilt in a proper, sound, and healthy manner unless all Syrians actively participate. Their voices must come first, and they must be genuine contributors to this reconstruction. Syrians represent the nation’s cultural and political diversity—they are the intellectuals, experts, and academics who drive every sector of Syrian society.”

He emphasized that Syrians should play a fundamental role in shaping their country’s future through a political and cultural pluralism that rejects sectarianism and artificial nationalistic divisions, “Syria’s future must be built on true political and cultural diversity, free from sectarianism and the illusion of fabricated nationalist divisions.”

Ismail cautioned against replicating the authoritarian pitfalls of the previous regime, emphasizing the need for a modernized constitutional framework, "The vision we aspire to is the reconstruction of a contemporary constitution. We must revisit the 2012 Constitution, identify its flaws, and amend them. The system of governance should be a hybrid presidential-parliamentary system to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of the president, as was the case under the previous regime, where absolute authority was monopolized by the head of state."

Ismail underscored that Syria’s political future must reflect all its societal components, ensuring genuine representation rather than the previous system’s favoritism toward tribal affiliations and political loyalty, "Parliamentary selection must be based on competence, not the outdated model where representation was determined by tribal affiliations. Lawmakers should be individuals with concrete political projects, aligned with modern ideological frameworks that resonate with Syria’s contemporary challenges and future aspirations."

 He concluded with a firm call to move beyond rhetoric and into concrete action: "We must not remain trapped in a state of wishful thinking. The time has come for serious efforts to build Syria in a way that truly befits its people and history."

Basil Qass Nasrallah, the civil engineer and former advisor to Syria’s Grand Mufti, invoked the ideas of Abdullah Ocalan in his remarks, emphasizing their relevance to Syria’s social cohesion, "It is crucial that we establish strong foundations. I have read most of Abdullah Ocalan’s works and closely follow his ideas. He does not advocate separatism but rather calls for serving the communities we live in, which is a natural principle for every social component."

Nasrallah painted a stark picture of Syria’s current crisis saying, "Our fundamental issue is that Syria is burning entirely. Before anything else, we must put out the fire—both the literal and the metaphorical fire within people's hearts. This requires two forms of justice: restorative justice and transitional justice. If we fail to address grievances wisely, we risk descending into vengeance-driven justice, fueled by deep-seated sectarianism."

 He emphasized that rebuilding trust is Syria’s only path forward: "Trust is essential, and we can only build it through dialogue. The purpose of dialogue is to foster mutual understanding.

 Kenan Samaan, the academic and civil society activist, reaffirmed that peaceful dialogue is far more effective than war in building Syria’s future:"As Syrians, we must engage in dialogue, regardless of our affiliations, in order to shape the new Syria."

 He stressed the importance of holding continuous forums to address misunderstandings and bridge divides: "Many parties do not fully grasp each other's perspectives. These meetings help clarify viewpoints, bring them closer together, and untangle the complex knots within society. Only then can different communities accept and understand one another."

 Samaan emphasized the need for an inclusive national identity that respects Syria’s diversity without marginalization or dilution.

 "The new Syria must represent all components without dominance or exclusion. At the same time, we must not dissolve Syrian identity. Instead, we must work towards crafting a unifying identity—one that embraces cultural diversity while fostering national unity. Achieving this requires effort, awareness, and openness."

 Samaan categorically rejected the notion that Syria can move forward without understanding and dialogue: " Every group must accept the other under the umbrella of the nation. If we fail to have open and clear internal discussions about the future, the region and the country will be reshaped without us. Without dialogue, we risk falling into new cycles of alienation, fragmentation, and conflict. Therefore, it is far better that we debate now than fight later."

a.k

ANHA