Evacuation Day

Evacuation Day is celebrated in Syria on April 17 of each year, which is the date of the evacuation of the last French soldier from Syrian territory  –  April 17, 1946.
During the time of the French occupation, the Syrians proved that they were fearless and continued their  struggle and resistance against the occupation of their country, and many national resistance movements appeared against the French and their presence on Syrian soil.
Among those protests was the revolution of Sheikh Saleh al-Ali in 1921, and the Great Syrian Revolution in 1925, all of which demanded the exit of the French from Syrian lands and the unification of the country.

The French occupation remained in control of Syria despite all these major Syrian protests and revolutions, until World War II broke out. France was defeated at the beginning by Nazi Germany, which raised Britain’s fears that Germany would seize the Syrian lands from the hands of the French so Britain occupied Syria in 1941 through its promise to help them gain independence and declared it a nominally independent state in 1943.

After the end of World War II and the victory of the Allies in the war, and the continuation of the militant resistance did not stop.This continuous national struggle culminated in the independence of Syria and the evacuation of the last French colonizer from its lands, on April 17, 1946, and its declaration as a fully independent state, and thus the date of April 17 represents a national day every year celebrated by Syrians from all regions.

Shukri al-Quwatli was then elected president of Syria.He delivered a memorable speech on the day of independence in which he said ,

“Today I congratulate this nation, young and old,people of the  crescent or the  cross. I congratulate that farmer, who when the  homeland called him,  abandoned his farm and cocked his gun, and  went to defend his nation and avenge his dignity. I congratulate the industrious worker, who  sacrificed himself for his country. I congratulate that student for his spirit is kindled with enthusiasm, and his head is bowed with respect.”(excerpt from speech)

Syria”s struggle for freedom continues and Syrians will not rest until not only  the Golan is free once again,but all Arab lands that are occupied.

Reem Haddad

Editor-in-Chief