Roshel Junior

As-Sweida – Renaming a number of streets in the Syrian city of Homs has become a focal point of widespread debate and criticism, following an official decision by the Executive Office of the Homs City Council to rename streets bearing the names of prominent historical figures. This step raises human rights questions about the extent of respect for collective memory and cultural and religious diversity in the public space.

The decisions of the Syrian interim government have sparked widespread debate and a wave of criticism, amid fears of an attempt to rewrite history and transmit it to future generations with a monolithic stamp. Since assuming power, the authorities have adopted a "one‑color" policy, threatening to marginalize the rich cultural and civilizational diversity of the country. Historical cities were meeting points for multiple civilizations, and any attempt to diminish the importance of these civilizations not only affects the past but also represents an exclusion of the collective memory of present peoples and the civilizations that have succeeded one another through the ages.

Changing historical symbols and names is not viewed as a formal procedure, but as a step carrying deep symbolic and political dimensions, because of its direct impact on the collective memory of future generations. Activist Hanin Khalifa affirms that its danger lies in its long‑term effect on historical consciousness, to the point that some facts may become questionable or ambiguous for new generations, even if later re‑documented.

She believes that the step is not only about the name of a street or a particular national figure, but falls within an integrated approach to reshape public consciousness, considering that what is happening is a systematic attempt to distort Syria's history and erase its national, religious, and cultural symbols.

Hanin Khalifa affirmed that Syria, throughout its long history, has been known as an inclusive space for all civilizations and sects, yet the current authority is trying to impose a monolithic and exclusionary vision, whether through educational curricula or through changing street names and public symbols. She explained that the repeated changes affecting street names and historical landmarks are not mere administrative decisions but carry political and ideological messages aimed at establishing a rigid religious discourse.

She considered that changing the name of a street bearing the name of "Sultan Pasha al‑Atrash," one of the most prominent leaders of the Great Syrian Revolution against French colonialism, is an attempt to erase Druze history. She said: "Sultan al‑Atrash is not a symbol of a particular sect, but a national figure representing all Syrians of different religious affiliations." She criticized what she described as attempts to marginalize other sects and components, pointing out that the prevailing discourse "reinforces societal and sectarian division instead of repairing it."

She explained that the constitutional declaration issued by the current authority does not reflect the aspirations of Syrians toward a democratic civil state, but rather consolidates the power of the individual and grants wide powers to the president without real accountability mechanisms. "The proposed constitution affirms exclusion and marginalization," considering that any political project not based on national partnership and respect for pluralism will not succeed in building real stability in the country.

She affirmed that preserving national and historical symbols is a collective responsibility toward future generations, as these symbols represent a unifying national memory that should not be subjected to political or sectarian tensions. "The country's historical strength has always been in its diversity and the solidarity of its people."