Martyrs, beacon for Syrians to continue sacrifices

More than 100 years ago, the Syrians revolted against the tyranny of 400 years of Ottoman occupation, with the occupiers using all forms of crimes to terror and deter the Syrians from fulfilling their goals in freedom and independence.

Since the Othman Empire had lost the World War I, it adopted a policy to oppress and replace all forms of nationalism, even if that meant annihilation of a number of the region’s peoples. Yet, the Syrians remained firm in their adherence to their identity, language and civilization, with an increased awareness on the importance of culture and nationalism and more secret meetings and forums to discuss methods of countering and overcoming occupation.

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  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.

Martyrs Day is a call for going forward in fighting against aggression and dangers facing the homeland. Syrians are offering sacrifices in their fight against terrorism and Erdogan’s and some Arab regimes-backed Takfiri plot targeting Syria’s security and stability.

The path of martyrdom is the only one to have victory and the Syrian army is the hope for liberation. As the war on Syria enters its seventh year, the 6th of May brings to mind stories of heroism, glory, commitment and all sacrifices that the Syrians have made to defend the independence of their homeland and its territorial integrity over the years.

Nowadays, the Martyrs’ Day is an opportunity to honor and pay tribute to all Syrian mothers and their sons for their sacrifices to confront the terrorist war waged on their country since 2011.

 Martyrs have become a beacon to the Syrian people to continue sacrifices to achieve victory and preserve Syria’s dignity and sovereignty.

Martyrs and martyrdom memory consolidate the confidence to go forward in the struggle against terrorism, confront any aggression, restore the rights and to liberate the occupied land.

Martyrs’ Day is an occasion for inspiring the meaning of sacrifices and continuing the march of struggle for liberating the occupied Syrian Golan, achieving new victories, eliminating terrorism and restoring security and stability to all Syrian areas. Martyrs’ Day is also an occasion to promote the culture of resistance and the values of martyrdom and to strengthen the confidence in the Arab fighters away from frustration and despair.

K.Q.