The success of a revolution is not measured merely by the fall of tyranny or a change in power; rather, it is measured by its capacity to restore rights to their rightful owners, provide justice to the oppressed, uphold the dignity of citizens, and build a state governed by the rule of law and institutions—a state where governance does not become spoils of war, and where the sacrifices of the people are not exploited to serve personal interests.
First: Plundered assets belong to society, not to those in power.
Following the success of the revolution, all assets plundered during the Assad era—whether movable or immovable—must be directed toward the families of martyrs, the wounded, persons with disabilities, victims of rape and sexual violence, those harmed by the regime’s policies and practices, the displaced, the impoverished, and the Syrian state treasury.
Recovering these assets is a national trust and both a moral and legal responsibility. It requires identifying, documenting, and reclaiming these resources, then allocating them through transparent and fair mechanisms, under the supervision of independent institutions subject to accountability and oversight.
Plundered assets must not be transformed into rewards or privileges for individuals simply because they have attained positions of power within the state. The revolution did not take place merely to replace old beneficiaries with new ones; it occurred so that the people could reclaim their rights, their wealth, and their dignity. Second: The oppressed should not be required to lift the injustice imposed upon them…
Unjust decisions taken by the authorities of the former regime against Syrians—whether they are abroad or within the country—must be annulled without delay or procrastination, once it is established that they were issued for arbitrary political reasons.
All legal and financial consequences resulting from these decisions must be rescinded, and rights must be restored to their rightful owners through clear legal procedures that ensure fairness and prevent the continuation of injustice under any guise.
A Syrian citizen should not be compelled to navigate state bureaucracy to seek redress for an injustice imposed upon them by that very state.
In principle, state institutions should take the initiative to rectify the abuses committed by their predecessors, rather than imposing additional burdens on the victims or making the restoration of rights contingent upon complex procedures and long waiting periods.
True transitional justice begins with acknowledging the injustice, eliminating its effects, and restoring rights to those entitled to them—while guaranteeing the right of the affected parties to lodge objections, file grievances, and seek compensation where appropriate.
Third: Public funds are a trust; there is no absolute authority to dispose of them…
The authority to manage or dispose of public funds—whether held by the Ministry of Finance, other ministries, state institutions, or public or sovereign funds—is not an absolute or unrestricted right for any official, regardless of their rank or the scope of their powers.
Public funds are a trust belonging to all the nation’s people and its institutions; they are not the property of the ruler, the government, or any specific political or social group. Its management must be subject to clear regulations, publicly disclosed budgets, independent oversight, and genuine accountability. These regulations should be ratified by the people’s elected representatives through the appropriate constitutional institutions, with the participation of trusted experts—all while ensuring the absence of conflicts of interest and the prevention of dominance by political or executive authorities.
We must not replicate a model in which those in power handle state funds according to personal whims and subjective judgment, free from legal constraints or institutional oversight.
Managing public funds is not a privilege for an official; rather, it is a mandate imposed by national responsibility, bounded by the provisions of the law, and subject to accountability before the people. There can be no development without transparency, no justice without oversight, and no state governed by institutions as long as public funds remain subject to individual, arbitrary discretion.
Fourth: Those who lead a revolution do not move from the front lines to palaces…
They do not transition from the trenches to luxury hotels.
Those who lead a revolution are the first to shoulder burdens and the last to reap privileges. They are the first to feel the people’s pain, the most deeply connected to the suffering of the majority, the most committed to carrying the concerns of the poor and the marginalized, and the most dedicated to addressing the issues faced by citizens, day and night.
Those who have made sacrifices for the sake of freedom, dignity, and justice must not use those sacrifices as a path to personal wealth or to monopolize positions and influence. Responsibility within a new order is neither a reward for the past nor an acquired privilege; it is a sacred trust that demands integrity, humility, and a commitment to public service. Those who champion a revolution are the first to bear the nation’s burdens, and the last to benefit from the opportunities and privileges of governance. They must be the closest to the suffering of the citizens, the most committed to the rule of law, and the most vigilant in protecting public funds and preventing corruption and cronyism.
A revolution launched for the sake of the people must not culminate in an authority detached from them, a new class that monopolizes wealth and decision-making, or institutions managed through personal loyalty rather than competence and merit.
Changing the ruler is not enough to build a state; one must also change the rules of governance, establish justice, protect rights, safeguard public resources, and ensure that everyone—without exception—is subject to the law.
These are the ideals of a revolution, and this is its true meaning: that the oppressed regain their rights, that the poor find someone to secure justice for them, that the dignity of every citizen is upheld, that the nation’s wealth remains the property of its own people, and that governance is treated as a public service rather than private spoils.
These are not mere “additional demands” to be made after a revolution; they are the very core of the objectives for which the Syrian Revolution was launched.
The spirit of the revolution endures until its goals are fully realized—for the sake of a homeland where no citizen is oppressed, no wealth is plundered, and where power never becomes a personal privilege.
Note:
We do not forget the contribution of those who provided personal security to Syrians following liberation.
We do not forget the contribution of those who brought an end to the criminal Assad regime, sparing us from its atrocities.
