Reconciling with Syria's new Government

"It is noteworthy that Syrian opposition fighters began their push south from Idlib on the same day that a ceasefire was announced between Israel and Hezbollah, signaling the severe weakening of Iranian influence in Lebanon after a yearlong war between Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanon is keenly watching developments in Syria, as they are likely to have a momentous impact across the Middle East. There are scenes of jubilation in Lebanon over Assad’s fall, given Syria’s near total hegemony over Lebanese domestic and foreign politics until its 2005 ouster from the country. For Lebanon, a successful transition in Damascus will enable millions of Syrian refugees to return home, but a botched one might generate more refugees, adding to the strain on Lebanon’s social fabric and economic conditions. Assad’s fall and the weakening of Iran’s axis of resistance will deal an additional blow to Hezbollah and affect Lebanon’s internal power dynamics. The collapse of the Assad regime leaves Iran more weakened than ever, although not fully disabled, and with its regional influence project critically affected and clearly vulnerable to attacks from Israel."

Patricia Karam, Non-Resident Fellow, Arab Center, Washington, D.C.

 

"The [Ba'ath] Party should not only be dissolved, it should go to hell."                    Mohammed Hussein Ali, Syrian State oil worker, Ba'ath Party member

 

"I am happy. We have been liberated from fear."

"Even the walls had ears."

Abdul-Rahman Ali, 43, former soldier, Ba'ath Party member 

"I want to become again a normal Syrian citizen and work to build a new Syria." 

Former Syrian army colonel, Ba'ath Party member Mohammed Merhi

Foreground, poster of Assad on desk of former Ba'ath Party HQ, now used by new government  for former military and security forces to register their names and surrender their weapons. AP

Strange as it seems at this juncture, a socialist ideology seemed to appeal to Middle East Arab countries in the 1950s and '60s, that seemed on the verge of de-Islamizing themselves in the separation of religion and state affairs. Egypt, under Gamel Abdel Nasser aspired to mobilize all the Arab nations in a  unified socialist movement. Iraq's strongman Saddam Hussein was committed to socialism under his Ba'ath party, and so was Bashar al-Assad with his version of Ba'athism; Marxism held a fascination for all of them, as they appeared to shed a deep frontal allegiance to Islam, leaving that to Saudi Arabia.

The Syrian Ba'ath Party publicly announced the freezing of its activities as the once-ruling political group, acknowledging that its 60-year term had ended with the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in the wake of Syrian insurgents' overthrowing of the regime. While some leadership party members departed the country in haste, others have gone into hiding. Syria's new rulers took the opportunity to turn the party headquarters in Damascus into a de-registering centre where Ba'ath members were encouraged to register their names and surrender their weapons.

The Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party that had ruled Syria since 1963, acknowledged its death knell in dissolution. And former members have not gone into mourning over its demise. Former party members and Syrians in general condemned its rule that damaged relations with other Arab countries. Under the influence of the Ba'ath Party, corruption that brought the nation under conflict to its knees had spread without hindrance.

A Syrian fighter from rebel group, fires towards a poster at the entrance of the notorious security detention centre called Palestine Branch in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla,File)

The group that led the insurgent offensive overthrowing Assad -- Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) -- has not yet announced an official decision on how to handle the Ba'ath Party. HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa has warned that officials with the party who had committed crimes in the past decades against the Syrian people would be brought to justice. The failure of the party whose aspiration was unification of Arab states into one nation, was an indication that it was no match for the unifying power of Islam itself.

Both Iraq and Syria adapted their regimes to the Ba'ath Party ideology, under both Hafez al-Assad, the father and Bashar, the son who succeeded him. In Iraq, Saddam Hussein presided over the country under his own Ba'ath regime. Senior military positions were held in Syria by members of the Assad family's minority Alawite sect, with party membership a nationalist cover. In Syria, the minority Alawite-Shiite sect ruled over Syria's majority Sunni population. In Iraq, the minority Sunni sect ruled the majority Shiite Iraqis.

The Ba'ath Vanguards, the youth branch of the party, ruled the lives of young Syrians, conscripting them to membership while in elementary school, emphasizing Arab nationalism and socialist ideology. "You could not take any job if you were not Ba'athist", Ghadir, an Alawite, explained that coming from a poor family, he joined the party to enable him to enter the military and aspire toward a stable income. 

 

The concern of many now is that the Syrian Sunni majority now controlling the country may choose a purge in score-settling of the once-ruling minority Shiites.

Three days following Assad's fall, a Ba'ath Party statement called on all members to hand over their weapons and public cars to the new authorities. Thousands now line  up at the former party headquarters to register their names and hand over their weapons. Party member, former army colonel Mohammed Merhi in handing over his Soviet Makarov pistol, received in exchange a document stating he now can move freely in the country, having reconciled with the new authorities.

Pro-Syrian government demonstrators hold a rally at Sabe Bahrat Square to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the foundation of the Ruling Baath Arab Socialist Party in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, April 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi,File)