At a time when the voice of weapons was louder than the voice of words, Raed al-Fares emerged as one of the purest symbols of the Syrian revolution, not with a gun but with a banner, not with a dry political discourse but with a sarcastic, humane message that penetrated the walls of silence and reached the conscience of the world.
From Kafranbel, Idlib, the small town that became a beacon of the revolution, his voice was heard by the world, making it a global symbol of freedom.
Biography:
- Full name: Raed al-Fares
- Place and date of birth: Kafranbel, Idlib, 1972
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, University of Aleppo
- Profession before the revolution: Civil engineer and social activist
- Revolutionary transformation: Engaged in the peaceful movement since March 2011
- Popular nickname: “The banner engineer” and “The conscience of the civil revolution”
Prominent achievements:
- Kafranbel banners: satirical political messages in Arabic and English against the regime and its allies, covered by international media outlets.
- Founding Radio Fresh (2013): An independent media platform that documented violations and raised awareness, challenging censorship by ISIS and other extremist organizations.
- Organizing civil society: Inspiring weekly demonstrations and civil initiatives that engaged youth and women.
- Confronting extremism: Publicly criticizing ISIS and al-Nusra and defending the peaceful nature of the revolution despite threats.
- International influence: Conveying the image of the Syrian revolution to the global media and building a network with human rights organizations and journalists.
Martyrdom:
- Date of martyrdom: November 23, 2018
- Location: Kafranbel, Idlib
- Method: Assassination by unknown assailants believed to be linked to extremist organizations
- Companion to martyrdom: Activist Hamoud Junaid
- Reactions: Widespread grief and anger in Syria and the world
Legacy and impact:
- Making Kafranbel a global icon of the Syrian revolution.
- Inspired generations of civil society activists with his peaceful and creative approach.
- He left an unforgettable moral and cultural legacy and embodied the spirit of the civil revolution in the face of tyranny and extremism.
Honoring the Syrian Future Movement:
We, in the Syrian Future Movement, and out of our belief in the role of media professionals and civil activists in shaping awareness and confronting tyranny, announce the honoring of the martyr Raed al-Fares by awarding him the movement’s symbolic shield, in recognition of his role, positions, and achievements.
Raed al-Fares has departed physically, but he will live on in the conscience of the revolution, in every banner raised, every voice raised, and every dream written on the walls of freedom.
