November 9th marks “World Freedom Day”—a humanitarian and civilizational occasion that reminds the peoples of the world that freedom is not a gift to be granted, but an inherent, natural right and a supreme value, without which human dignity cannot exist.
At the Syrian Future Movement, we approach this anniversary with a heightened sense of national and legal responsibility. We affirm that the Syrian people’s struggle to attain freedom—and to break free from decades of tyranny and oppression—lies at the very core of our national cause. Furthermore, we present our political and civic vision for establishing the foundations of a state rooted in public freedoms, particularly within the context of the current transitional phase.
The Syrian Future Movement maintains that the forced disappearance and detention of over 157,000 Syrian citizens—held in the prisons of the defunct Syrian regime and by various militias—constitutes a crime against humanity and a blatant challenge to the international community. The issue of detainees and the forcibly disappeared remains the primary obstacle to any genuine political stability or civil peace; it must be resolved, with guarantees in place to ensure such abuses never recur.
The Syrian Future Movement emphasizes that the long-standing suppression of academic, political, and trade union freedoms has effectively hollowed out civic life. Addressing this requires intensive, institutional-level efforts to rebuild trust in public life and to secure political pluralism as a cornerstone for national recovery.
Guided by its steadfast principles and a forward-looking perspective—essential for navigating the complexities and challenges of a transitional phase—the Syrian Future Movement puts forward the following recommendations:
- The Syrian Future Movement maintains that the indispensable starting point for any successful transition is to uncover the fate of the missing, abolish extraordinary courts and vaguely defined counter-terrorism laws—which have served as legal instruments to suppress personal and political freedoms—and ensure that the authoritarian past can never return.
- The Syrian Future Movement emphasizes the necessity of drafting a new national constitution that unequivocally guarantees the protection of public and individual freedoms—foremost among them freedom of expression, the press, political and labor organization, and freedom of belief and thought—while establishing independent and impartial judicial mechanisms to prevent the executive branch or security apparatus from encroaching upon citizens’ rights.
- The Syrian Future Movement proposes the establishment of an “Independent National Authority for Freedoms and Human Rights,” overseen by human rights experts and civil society organizations. This body would be tasked with monitoring and documenting violations, and ensuring that new domestic laws align with international human rights declarations and charters.
- There must be a commitment to fostering a culture of diversity and cultivating a promising Syrian generation that embraces responsible freedom—grounded in respect for the rule of law and pluralism. Furthermore, the movement advocates for the integration of concepts such as citizenship, justice, and independent critical thinking into educational curricula and public civic activities.
