Address
Hadi al-Bahra
President of the Syrian Coalition
July 28, 2014
Dear Syrians,
Another Eid has arrived as our revolution for dignity continues; a revolution that will not stop until the Syrian people achieve their goals of freedom and dignity.
The regime has consistently tried to destroy the Syrian identity and suppress Syrian potential. The revolution, however, is going to restore the Syrian identity and rebuild a country that has been ruined by Assad.
The first written language in history was in Syria. The Syrian people were the pioneers of science and civilization. Today, Syrians are able to set an example for the whole world; an example of sacrifice and patience; of building a civilization and good governance.
Since the very beginning, the slogan the Syrian people chose was: “the Syrian people are one.” Today, the struggle continues for the modern state, the state of equality and justice, where every citizen is equal, with security and equal opportunities for all.
What Syrians want is a decent life; is to be free, free to revolutionize education, science, and politics, and to modernize education methodology in a new Syria.
Our struggle to build Syria is as important as our struggle against the criminal regime. Syria needs all its sons, from all political and religious backgrounds. Syria is for all its citizens from all ethnicities and nationalities. The Syrian people are able to create miracles and indeed able to emerge victorious.
The independence of Syria, its sovereignty and territorial integrity, the restoration of the occupied Golan Heights, and the unity of the Syrian people are the fundamental basics of our struggle.
It must be clear that protecting the Syrian people and preserving their dignity is at the center of our work. We will never ever allow anyone to take away that dignity and impose their own ideologies on the Syrian people who have led the greatest revolution in history. The Syrian people stood up in the face of a regime that used its military machine to kill them. They can stand up to armed groups which instead of defending the people are trying to wrong and oppress them.
Those who are not fighting to defend the dignity and freedom of the Syrian people are enemies of the people. Everyone must unite to secure the freedom of our country and the dignity of its citizens. Those who refuse to unite under this goal do not represent the will of the Syrian people and are enemies of the revolution.
Brothers and sisters,
Widows, bereaved mothers, and orphans,
What Syria has been through is unimaginable. I know the times are difficult and we are all facing a fierce storm. I realize the gravity of the challenges facing us, especially in light of the international community’s inaction. The Syrian people were left alone to face, bare-chested, the dark forces of injustice. The Syrian people are fighting on three fronts; they are fighting the regime, they are fighting those who want to impose their own ideology on us, and they are fighting to build their country. We only need to work and work hard and God will grant us victory.
Dear Syrians,
The strength of our men and the steadfastness of our women will build a brighter future for our children.
Today, the Syrian people are fighting on behalf of humanity, on behalf of the free. The international community needs to stand by them and support them in their fight against injustice because the victory of the Syrian people is a victory for all noble human values. It is a victory of the free. In this regard, we reaffirm our strong commitment to human rights laws and international humanitarian law. In fact, it is a commitment to all Syrian noble values.
Dear Syrians,
As a representative of the revolution, the Syrian Coalition is also an inclusive political framework that is open to all the Syrian people, and is now sparing no effort to harness the potential of all the Syrians. A plan has been set out with specific deadlines and, in collaboration with you all, we will embark on its implementation.
We, in the Syrian Coalition, have started a process of reorganization. Mistakes that have hampered our path will be corrected. We are open to criticism and advice from all Syrians. Sometimes mistakes happen, but only those who do nothing at all can avoid mistakes. We need constant reviews and constructive criticism that will lead us to overcome our mistakes and return to the right track.
The Syrian Coalition will be closer than ever to the Syrian people’s suffering. It is after all a representative of them. Its legitimacy is derived from its commitment to the goals of the revolution.
Our only point of reference is the Syrian people. We derive our strength and determination from them.
Dear Syrians,
I realize the scale of your suffering. Your sacrifice in defending freedom and dignity is immense.
I speak to you today while the people of Gaza, just like you, are fighting for freedom and dignity.
I speak to you today to say victory is near, and freedom will prevail.
Dear Syrians,
Let us gather and all take part in building our country where all citizen will live with freedom and dignity. Let us all gather to protect our country; to protect Syria, the cradle of civilization. Syria truly deserves our sacrifice.
Eid Mubarak to you all. Our real Eid is the day our revolution succeeds, and this victory is near.
May our wounded recover, our detainees be free, and our fallen heroes rest in peace.
Long live Syria and its people, free and with honor.
