In a country exhausted by war and destruction, the authorities continue their battle against those who are different, as if they have learned nothing from their past. Sednaya al-Assad may have fallen, but now everyone has their own personal Sednaya in which those who differ are thrown.
In recent months, Syria has witnessed systematic campaigns against gay and transgender people. Some of these campaigns have even been filmed and posted on various social media platforms. It has not stopped at the unjustified arrest of these individuals—videos show how they were physically assaulted. Under each video, there is a flood of comments praising the “bravery” of Syrian security forces in chasing down such “degenerates,” claiming they are the product of Assad’s government, which aimed to spread vice and target devout religious citizens. Among dozens of comments supporting these acts of targeting, you might find a faint voice condemning such brutality. In light of these events, we must direct some questions to both the Syrian people and the Syrian security forces.
Have the Syrian security forces completed all their duties regarding the safety and stability of a country that has endured years of internal and external conflicts? Has the so-called legitimate government finished rebuilding the future of a nation destroyed by its predecessor? It is as clear as daylight that both the Syrian security apparatus and the government have far more urgent priorities than chasing transgender people—starting with pursuing members of the former regime who committed violence and oppression and who pose a real threat to Syrian society.
And even if they had completed all those tasks, do members of the LGBTQIA+ community truly pose such a threat to public safety that they warrant organized campaigns against them? One oft-repeated, baseless claim is that those arrested were engaged in sex work. Even if prostitution is illegal in Syria—and setting aside the debate over its legitimacy—let us accept its illegality for the sake of argument. If the modern Syrian state were truly one that respects the rule of law, would it be permissible to treat people this way? Does the law allow them to be physically assaulted before any charges are proven? And even after charges are proven, is this the punishment the law prescribes?
We cannot ignore that the repression faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals is widespread across the Arab region—whether due to religious reasons, cultural norms, or simply a love of the oppression that our societies have inherited and now perpetuate whenever given the chance. But we had hoped for something different in Syria, a chance to mark the beginning of a deep transformation on many issues affecting the oppressed, regardless of their background. Instead, they chose the opposite path.
Today’s questions are addressed to the Syrian people. It has not been long since December 2024, when the people rid themselves of Assad’s decades-long rule—years in which Syrians suffered some of the worst documented human rights abuses in modern history. These crimes were recorded by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and other organizations—and even without such documentation, we saw them with our own eyes. To this day, in public squares across Syria, you can still see photos of those who disappeared in mass arrests carried out by the former regime.
All our peoples have suffered—and continue to suffer—from the same forms of political, religious, and other repression, and they also share in the hatred toward the LGBTQIA+ community, launching systematic campaigns against them.
And the same question could be asked more broadly: all our peoples have suffered—and continue to suffer—from the same forms of political, religious, and other repression, and all share in the hatred toward LGBTQIA+ people, launching systematic campaigns against them.
So we ask: have you learned nothing about the meaning of oppression, humiliation, and powerlessness? How can you treat others as your oppressors once treated you? If your problem with the LGBTQIA+ community lies in their orientations, preferences, or beliefs, then by that same logic, we could justify what Assad’s regime—or any Arab dictatorship—did to you because it disagreed with your own views or beliefs.
Sir, freedoms are indivisible. And the justification of oppression is also indivisible. Political repression is no different from religious, intellectual, racial, or any other form of repression. Your right to freedom obliges you to defend the freedom of others.
Rights activist and LGBTQIA+ advocate Doumit al-Qazzi told Silat Wassel that what is happening today in Damascus is a deliberate targeting of LGBTQIA+ individuals, occurring across Syria, not only in Damascus. It is therefore undoubtedly a coordinated campaign—whether carried out by Syrian security forces or by independent militias unaffiliated with any formal organizations. Among these are groups such as Men of Dignity, who have reportedly targeted specific homes in the Jaramana neighborhood in southeastern Damascus, arresting transgender women there.
Al-Qazzi adds: “This cannot be considered a series of isolated incidents, but once again, systematic campaigns. And in my view, this is to be expected from a government that has openly declared its constitution is founded on Islamic Sharia law.”
Freedoms are indivisible, and so is the justification of oppression. Your right to freedom obliges you to defend the freedom of others.
Al-Qazzi stresses: “Emerging from oppression does not necessarily mean it will lead to change. True change can only come through organized work on culture, awareness, and the upbringing of society. Only then can change happen. One cannot expect change at all when the current ruler is the Islamic Ba’ath Party, which will never allow any democratic environment.”
Al-Qazzi believes there is no time for rest now. The fall of the Assad family does not mean we can take a break and celebrate this victory. On the contrary, he sees the present as one of the most dangerous moments in modern Syrian history, a foundational stage that requires doubling our efforts. On a personal level, he says he will not hesitate for a moment to defend and support every member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
