Syrian museums are a crime against the state and national memory.

As the new Syrian state wages a battle to restore stability and build its institutions on national and legal foundations, serious incidents are unfolding before the public that cannot be dismissed as mere isolated events or individual errors.

The repeated thefts targeting the National Museum in Damascus and centers affiliated with the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums, occurring twice in less than a month, represent a direct assault on the sovereignty of the state, its historical memory, and the Syrian people’s trust in their institutions.

Documented information from official statements and local and international media coverage indicates a series of thefts, including:

1. The theft of highly valuable historical artifacts from the National Museum in Damascus, after breaking and forcing open some internal doors.
2. Thefts targeting buildings and centers belonging to the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums, including equipment and supplies related to documentation, administrative work, and technical tasks (and perhaps more).

The recurrence of these incidents within such a short period raises serious questions about security measures, the integrity of inventory, and the mechanisms for oversight and accountability. The gravity of these incidents lies not only in the value of the stolen artifacts, but also in the negative message they send both domestically and internationally, as if Syrian heritage remains vulnerable and state institutions are incapable of protecting the most sensitive symbols of its sovereignty.

We believe these thefts constitute:

1. A crime against Syria’s national memory, because antiquities do not belong to any ministry or department, but to the Syrian people and to all of humanity.
2. A serious indication of a structural flaw in the protection and management system, which cannot be ignored or justified by circumstances.
3. A direct threat to the reputation of the Syrian state in international forums, at a time when it is supposed to be restoring trust and cooperation with international organizations concerned with heritage.
4. Fertile ground for the spread of corruption and impunity if these issues are not addressed with transparency and firmness.

Based on our national and moral responsibility, the Syrian Future Movement affirms the following:

1. Silence or downplaying of the looting of antiquities is a betrayal of public trust and serves neither the state’s project nor the path to stability. 2. Any attempt to obscure the facts or to rely solely on general statements without clear and publicized results constitutes indirect complicity in the crime.
2. Protecting museums and documentation centers is not a secondary matter, but rather an integral part of national security and cultural sovereignty.

Clear and Urgent Recommendations:

The Syrian Future Movement calls for the following measures to be taken without delay:

1. Launch an independent and transparent judicial investigation into all theft incidents, making its findings public and holding accountable anyone found negligent or involved.
2. Conduct an immediate and comprehensive inventory of all artifacts and holdings in museums, warehouses, and centers affiliated with the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums.
3. Reassess the security system for archaeological sites and museums, including personnel, surveillance cameras, and chains of command.
4. Involve independent oversight bodies and experts specializing in heritage management, and do not confine the matter to a closed administrative circle. 5. Urgent communication with international organizations concerned with cultural heritage to demonstrate a serious commitment to protecting Syrian heritage and preventing its smuggling or trafficking.
5. Considering the issue of antiquities and museums a national priority and directly linking it to a high level of government oversight and accountability.

The Syrian Future Movement clearly affirms that no state can be built on a plundered memory, and there can be no true stability without protecting the nation’s history and symbols.

What has happened must serve as a genuine wake-up call, not a fleeting incident to be forgotten with time.

Strict accountability, transparency, and restoring the concept of responsibility are the only way to preserve Syrian heritage, protect the dignity of the state, and regain the people’s trust.