Press release
Syrian Opposition Coalition
Department of Media and Communications
July 05, 2021
It is with great sadness and sorrow that the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) mourns the veteran politician and opposition figure Oqab Yahya, who passed away of cancer on Monday.
The SOC expresses its sincere condolences to the Syrian people, the family of Yahya, his colleagues and friends.
The late Yahya held the position of SOC’s Vice-president until his death. His political activity in Syria dates back to the early seventies. He established the National Democratic Conglomerate in 1976 to organize the opposition action against the Assad regime. As a result, he was harassed by the Assad regime’s intelligence, and had to move to Algeria in the late 1980s. From there he continued his activism at political writing and fiction. He has embraced the Syrian revolution on various levels since day one.
The departure of Yahya will certainly leave a void in the hearts of all who knew him. His calm personality, wisdom and ability to listen well and then attract the attention of those around him will remain an example worthy of appreciation and following.
Yahya left behind thousands of articles, studies, books, stories and novels, some of which have been published and others awaiting publication.
Over the past ten years, we have lost many thinkers and opposition figures. We cannot but honor their legacy, struggle, and contributions. We have also to overcome this loss and turn to the tough tasks that still lie ahead.
Surely we belong to Allah and to Him shall we return.
