Syrians commemorate uprising anniversary for first time since Assad’s fall

DAMASCUS, Syria (AFP) — Syrians gathered on Saturday to commemorate the 14th anniversary of their uprising with a public demonstration in Damascus for the first time since president Bashar al-Assad was toppled.

The rally in Damascus’ Umayyad Square was the first in the capital after years of repression under Assad, during which the square was the sole preserve of the ousted president’s supporters.

Activists called on people to hold similar demonstrations in the major cities of Homs, Idlib and Hama under the slogan “Syria is victorious.”

Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani hailed the anniversary, saying on X: “We will remain indebted to the first cry of freedom, which erupted in Daraa, the cradle of the Syrian revolution, and spread to all cities. We will remain loyal to the great sacrifices made by our people over more than 14 years.”

By the afternoon, dozens of people had gathered in Umayyad Square, amid a heavy security presence and with military helicopters overhead dropping leaflets bearing the slogan “there is no room for hate among us.”

Security forces were stationed at all entrances to the square, with some of them handing out flowers to demonstrators while speakers blared revolutionary and Islamic songs.

Many of the demonstrators waved the Syrian flag — officially changed from one used under Assad to the design from the independence era — and held signs reading “the revolution has triumphed.”