After decades of oppression, Syrians are reclaiming their stories of resistance just as the scars of a brutal regime linger in their collective memory.
Syria's Changing Narrative: From Fear to Pride Among the 'Wanted'
Syria's Changing Narrative: From Fear to Pride Among the 'Wanted'
In the aftermath of the Assad dictatorship, a new sense of pride emerges as Syrians embrace their past identities as once-wanted citizens.
As many return to previously unwelcoming locales, the act of questioning one’s past status on the regime’s infamous ‘wanted’ lists has morphed from a source of dread into a poignant symbol of resilience.
When Kazem Togan landed back in Syria for the first time in over a decade, he leaned towards the passport control clerk and asked to confirm his status. Would he be among the millions on the notorious wanted lists of the former Assad regime? “You’re wanted by branch 235,” came the cheerful response. “The intelligence branch.” Rather than feeling fear, Togan felt excitement. As an opposition journalist during Assad’s reign, being ‘wanted’ had become a mark of defiance.
Today, it is no longer whispered in shame or fear; many Syrians routinely ask about their names on such lists, taking pride in their past. “Was I wanted?” has turned into an emblem of resistance against a system that tormented its citizens to maintain control.
For over fifty years, the Assad regime used fear tactics to maintain its grip on power. Those marked as ‘wanted’ lived in perpetual anxiety, marked for possible arrest and secrecy. But as the old regime’s grip weakens, the narrative is reversing. People who once trembled at their security files are now proudly sharing their experiences, not only in private conversations but also across social media platforms.
Being wanted is now viewed as evidence of having stood against oppression, a badge of honor in a community striving to heal and rebuild after years of civil strife. The remembrance of hardship now fuels a sense of unity among citizens ready to embrace a future free from tyrannical rule.
While wounds from the regime’s reign still fester, the evolution of this narrative underscores the resilience of the Syrian population, celebrating the shift from fear to a newfound dignity wrapped up in defiance.
When Kazem Togan landed back in Syria for the first time in over a decade, he leaned towards the passport control clerk and asked to confirm his status. Would he be among the millions on the notorious wanted lists of the former Assad regime? “You’re wanted by branch 235,” came the cheerful response. “The intelligence branch.” Rather than feeling fear, Togan felt excitement. As an opposition journalist during Assad’s reign, being ‘wanted’ had become a mark of defiance.
Today, it is no longer whispered in shame or fear; many Syrians routinely ask about their names on such lists, taking pride in their past. “Was I wanted?” has turned into an emblem of resistance against a system that tormented its citizens to maintain control.
For over fifty years, the Assad regime used fear tactics to maintain its grip on power. Those marked as ‘wanted’ lived in perpetual anxiety, marked for possible arrest and secrecy. But as the old regime’s grip weakens, the narrative is reversing. People who once trembled at their security files are now proudly sharing their experiences, not only in private conversations but also across social media platforms.
Being wanted is now viewed as evidence of having stood against oppression, a badge of honor in a community striving to heal and rebuild after years of civil strife. The remembrance of hardship now fuels a sense of unity among citizens ready to embrace a future free from tyrannical rule.
While wounds from the regime’s reign still fester, the evolution of this narrative underscores the resilience of the Syrian population, celebrating the shift from fear to a newfound dignity wrapped up in defiance.
