Damascus Spring

The Damascus Spring was a period of intense political and social debate in Syria which started after the death of President Hafiz al-Asad in June 2000 and continued to some degree until autumn 2001, when most of the activities associated with it were suppressed by the government.

Related Topics:
Syria - Hafiz al-Asad - 2000 - 2001

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Under Hafiz al-Asad, president of Syria from 1970 until his death in 2000, political activity had been strictly controlled, and from 1980 on effective opposition activity had been almost impossible, as was any sort of free expression of opinion. Five principal security agencies served primarily to monitor political dissent. A state of emergency had existed since 1963, with military courts applying martial law and special courts trying political cases with little regard for human rights or due process. Prisoners were routinely tortured and held in appalling conditions.

Related Topics:
1970 - 1980 - 1963

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There remained, nonetheless, a considerable appetite for political debate in the country, as well as a good deal of dissatisfaction with the government and the system. From 1998 on, the level of repression diminished noticeably, and when in June 2000 Hafiz al-Asad died and his son Bashar was installed as president, a number of Syrian intellectuals attempted to engage in political discussion.

Related Topics:
1998 - 2000 - Bashar

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Damascus Spring was characterised above all by the emergence of numerous muntadat, referred to in English as "salons" or "forums". Groups of like-minded people met in private houses, with news of the occasion spread by word of mouth, and discussed political matters and wider social questions. The phenomenon of the salons spread rapidly in Damascus and to a lesser extent in other cities. Long-standing members of the Syrian opposition were notable in animating the movement, as were a number of intellectuals who resolutely declared themselves apolitical, such as film-maker Omar Amiralay. Members of the Syrian Communist Party and reform-minded Ba'th Party members also took part in debate.

Related Topics:
Damascus - Omar Amiralay - Syrian Communist Party - Ba'th Party

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Damascus Spring can be seen as having mobilised around a number of political demands, expressed in the "Manifesto of the 99" signed by prominent intellectuals. These were, principally, the cancellation of the state of emergency and abolition of martial law and special courts; the release of all political prisoners; the return without fear of prosecution of political exiles; and the right to form political parties and civil organisation. To these was often added the more precisely political demand that Article 8 of the Syrian constitution be repealed. This article provides that "the Arab Socialist Ba'th Party leads the state and society".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Damascus Spring made a major impact across the Arab world, and initially there was considerable optimism that it would lead to real change. The editor of the Syrian state Tishrin newspaper announced his intention of forming a committee, to comprise prominent intellectuals such as Maher Charif, Ahmad Barqawi and Yusuf Salameh, to edit a new opinion page, but this never came about. The salons debated many political and social questions to a wider nature, from the position of women to the nature of education methods and the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories.

Related Topics:
Maher Charif - Ahmad Barqawi - Yusuf Salameh - Israel - Palestinian Territories

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the event, the regime, which had initially seemed unsure how to respond to the Damascus Spring, fell back on its tried methods of repression, and in 2001 a number of jailings coupled with the forced closure of the salons brought it to an end. However, some aspects of it remain: Syrian intellectuals have released further statements echoing that of the 99; some small demonstrations have taken place in Damascus; and until 2005 one salon, the Jamal al-Atassi National Dialogue Forum, was still permitted to function.

Related Topics:
2001 - 2005

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~