In the context of the global celebration of the World Interfaith Harmony Week, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly under Resolution A/RES/65/5, which represents an international framework for promoting cultural and religious dialogue, the Syrian Future Movement affirms the importance of this occasion as a strategic tool for reshaping the social fabric in Syria.
We believe that this week serves as a practical call to activate mechanisms for reconciling religious and sectarian diversity, based on the principles of political modernity that focus on pluralistic democracy, human rights, and transitional justice, in the face of the sectarian challenges inherited from years of conflict.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that Syria, as a country with multiple sects and religions – including Sunnis, Alawites, Christians, Druze, Yazidis, and other minorities – has witnessed profound sectarian transformations that have led to increased polarization and exclusion.
We observe that over the past decade, the armed conflict caused by the Assad regime’s policies has exacerbated sectarian tensions, with sectarianism being used as a political tool for mobilization and control. This has resulted in mass displacement, forced migration, and grave violations of the rights of both the majority and minority groups.
We believe that these circumstances represent a contemporary reality that requires an approach based on sociological and political analysis to deconstruct entrenched sectarian identities and rebuild them within a unified national framework. The Syrian Future Movement believes that sectarianism is not an inevitable fate, but rather a product of previous authoritarian policies, and that it can be overcome through a modern model based on a civil state, where national identity transcends sectarianism. This model draws on the experiences of countries like post-apartheid South Africa and builds upon the recent progress in the Syrian peace process, such as the March 2025 agreement between President Ahmed al-Shara and General Mazloum Abdi for the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which evolved into a comprehensive ceasefire agreement on January 30, 2026, opening prospects for gradual administrative and military integration, and the issuance of Decree No. 13 concerning the linguistic and cultural rights of the Kurds.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that interfaith harmony in Syria must be part of a comprehensive transitional process that includes:
- Specialized constitutional and legislative reforms, and the drafting of a new constitution that guarantees the separation of religious and political authorities while respecting freedom of belief, and protects minority rights through balanced representation mechanisms, such as a proportional representation system that takes into account sectarian diversity without enshrining it as a basis for division.
These reforms should also include laws to combat sectarian discrimination, based on international agreements such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and building upon the progress made in forming the People’s Council and drafting the permanent constitution as outlined in the 2026 agreements. - Educational and cultural programs through redesigning educational curricula to promote values of tolerance and pluralism, and incorporating comparative religious studies that avoid historical biases.
We also call for the establishment of specialized research centers in the sociology of religion, collaborating with international organizations such as UNESCO, to analyze sectarian dynamics and formulate preventive policies against extremism. Mechanisms for national reconciliation and the organization of local and regional interfaith dialogues, supported by initiatives such as “Religious Dialogue Committees” that include representatives from all communities, focusing on specific issues such as the return of displaced persons to their areas without sectarian discrimination.
We believe that these mechanisms should be supported by psychosocial programs to address sectarian trauma, and include specific activities during this week, such as online workshops on “Historical Syrian Coexistence” and community meetings in diverse regions such as Aleppo, Sweida, and the coastal areas.- Balanced economic and social support and addressing sectarian disparities through development policies targeting marginalized regions, such as the coastal or eastern areas, to promote economic integration as a means of building trust.
We believe this requires partnerships with international organizations to finance joint projects between communities, such as reconstruction projects in devastated areas, along with the use of digital media campaigns to disseminate success stories of coexistence. - Rejecting extremism and promoting tolerant discourse, we call for a renewal of religious discourse by religious institutions themselves, so that it becomes a tool for harmony instead of division, while supporting digital media campaigns that utilize modern technology to spread success stories of historical Syrian coexistence, such as the model of Damascus as a city of coexisting religions.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that this global week is a transformative moment for Syria, where sectarian diversity can become a source of strength, not weakness, through a model that combines Syria’s rich heritage with universal principles of peace.
We also call upon all Syrian actors – political, religious, and civil society – to engage in this process, so that we may build a new Syria that serves as a model of harmony in the region.
