Symbol of heroism and sacrifice

As the Syrian people commemorate the Martyrs’ Day, they remember with great pride the sacrifices offered by their fathers and forefathers who paid their lives to defend their homeland and people against the Ottoman occupation of the Arab homeland. Our ancestors’ sacrifices are an inexhaustible source of inspiration for our people and Army to defeat the takfiri terrorism which has plagued the country for over seven years targeting Syrian state and people in implementation of the sinister American Zionist project which aims to destroy Syria as it constitutes the heart of the axis of resistance against Israeli occupation. This project aims to enable Israel invade the Arab homeland politically and economically to achieve the interests of the neo-colonialism. The colonialist project also aims to create sectarian conflicts and divide Syria into mini states based on religion. But this land which drank the blood did not ask whether it was the blood of Christian or Muslim martyrs, as the martyrs’ blood is one and it is the blood of truth.

  History repeats itself.  This day commemorates the hanging of prominent intellectual, political and cultural figures in Damascus and Beirut at the hands of Ottoman despot Jamal Pasha, who attempted to suppress the fire of revolution and freedom in Syrians. Just like Jamal Pasha set up gallows for the intellectuals of Syria in the past, his grandson, Recep Tayeb Erdogan is supporting takfiri terrorists who came from different parts of the world to destroy Syria and assassinate scientists, religious figures, devastate places of worship, universities and infrastructure, continuing the dark and criminal legacy of Jamal Pasha. Neither the Ottoman ruler Jamal Basha nor the Erdogan-backed terrorist organizations’ heinous crimes will undermine the Syrians’ willingness to defeat terrorism.

The story of the Martyrs Day dates back to the beginning of the 20th century when Arab political figures and intellectuals started speaking of Arab nationalism. The Arabs’ demands were of a reformist nature, limited in general to autonomy, use of Arabic in education, and changes in conscription in the Ottoman Empire in peacetime for Arab conscripts that allowed local service in the Ottoman army. The Arab calls for independence reached peak with the holding of Arab Conference in Paris, 1913 under the leadership of intellectual Abdul Hamid al-Zahrawi. They produced a set of demands for greater autonomy within the Ottoman Empire. However, the Ottoman authorities launched a wide scale arrest campaign against Arab intellectuals and people turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to the Arab legitimate demands. On May 6, 1916, Jamal Pasha publicly executed twenty-one Arab intellectuals and politicians simultaneously in Damascus and Beirut for alleged anti-Ottoman activities. The date, May 6, is commemorated annually in both countries as Martyrs’ Day. Since then, Al-Marja Square began to be known as Martyrs’ Square in memory of martyrs who are the noblest of mankind and the most generous people. Jamal Pasha’s oppression did not force the Arab people to halt their unabated resistance to the Ottomans and they pressed ahead with their struggle until they forced the Ottomans out of their homeland ending a four century occupation. However, the Arabs fell under a new conspiracy represented by the ill-famed Sykes-Picot Accord which divided the Arab countries between Britain and France as if they were their inheritance. Once again, the Arab people started a relentless struggle until they won independence. Syria today is more determined to eradicate terrorism. Syrian people take pride in the martyrdom of their sons, because martyrdom is the only way to protect the dignity and unity of the homeland. Our martyrs, who offered their lives for the sake of their people and homeland, have been the torch guiding the way for successive generations to continue struggle against colonialist forces.  Martyrs’ Day is an occasion to renew our adherence to our homeland and unwavering principles in confrontation of all challenges and conspiracies. Following in the footsteps of the May 6th martyrs and those who came before and after them, the Syrians will continue to confront the terrorism and aggression targeting the homeland, building a stronger Syria through eliminating terrorism and rebuilding the country.

K.Q.