In light of the unfortunate developments at Damascus University, the Syrian Future Movement expresses its deep concern and condemnation of the serious incident that occurred on Sunday, October 12, 2025. This involved an armed attack on the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, and an attempted assault on the Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Ali al-Lahham, inside his office. The attack involved the use of machine guns and hand grenades, in a blatant violation of the sanctity of the university campus and a direct threat to the safety and security of academic staff and students.
The Syrian Future Movement views this unprecedented incident as a serious violation of the independence of educational institutions and an assault on the sanctity of the university campus, which has always been a space for learning, knowledge, and dialogue, not an arena for violence or settling scores.
While the Syrian Future Movement welcomes the responsible stance expressed by the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Marwan al-Halabi, in which he affirmed his categorical rejection of these actions and pledged to follow up on the investigations and hold the perpetrators accountable, it views this statement as a first step in the right direction. It stresses the need for these promises to be translated into concrete measures to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in the future.
Accordingly, the Syrian Future Movement calls for the following:
- Opening a transparent and independent investigation under the supervision of a committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Higher Education, the Higher Education Council, and academic bodies, to ensure accountability for all those involved.
- Adopting a national charter for the protection of university campuses, prohibiting any security or armed intervention without clear judicial authorization and enshrining the independence of educational institutions.
- Promoting a culture of institutional dialogue within universities and activating mechanisms for resolving academic and administrative disputes through legal and peaceful means.
- Launching awareness-raising and training programs targeting students and employees in the education sector to instill the concepts of citizenship, respect for the law, and the sanctity of public institutions.
- Reviewing security and administrative policies at universities to ensure a safe, free, and stimulating educational environment that encourages creativity and critical thinking.
The Syrian Future Movement, while affirming its full solidarity with the Faculty of Arts at Damascus University, as well as with all students and faculty, reiterates its commitment to defending the independence of educational institutions. It calls on all national and societal forces to join forces to preserve the dignity of Syrian universities and ensure that such incidents, which undermine the essence of the educational process and tarnish the image of the nation, are not repeated.
