Mansour Al-Omari
In a pivotal historical moment, the statue of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad in Deir Atiyah – once his largest in Syria – transcended mere rubble the instant it fell. This destroyed statue, in its current state, became a spontaneous collective artwork crafted by Syrians in their truest moments, a living testament to a people’s will and yearning for freedom. From this perspective, I urgently appeal to the Syrian Ministry of Culture, requesting immediate action to preserve this unique relic and prevent its removal as mere debris.
The Fallen Assad Statue in Deir Atiyah, “The Fall of Tyrants: The End of an Era of Oppression and Injustice” (Omar Haj Kadour)
Symbolism Beyond Rubble
Transforming this statue and its wreckage, which symbolizes the era of the two Assads’ rule in Syria, into a monument is an urgent national and historical necessity. It is a tangible embodiment of an event that shook Syria and the entire region, reflecting a profound shift in Syrian consciousness and a rejection of a fallen regime’s symbols and glorification. Establishing a monument at the site will ensure this crucial moment is preserved for future generations, preventing any attempts to erase or forget it.
The proposed monument project in Deir Atiyah honors the symbolism of resilience and the will of the people. The toppling of the statue was not a fleeting incident or simply an expression of discontent; it was the shattering of an authoritarian symbol, and a powerful expression of the Syrian people’s aspiration for liberation and dignity. The monument will commemorate the moment of liberation from a symbol of oppression, becoming a clear national and global message that the will of the people can bring about change, no matter how difficult.
The Art of a Sincere Moment: A Real-Life “Readymade”
Art is not confined to what is deliberately crafted in studios or museums by professional artists. Sometimes, spontaneous artworks emerge in pivotal historical moments, resulting from pent-up collective emotions that erupt in a single act. The dismantling of Hafez al-Assad’s statue in Deir Atiyah was not an act of vandalism; rather, it was a constructive collective action driven by a deep sense of injustice and a longing for freedom. The moment the statue fell, its breakage and disfigurement, though not artistically planned, became a visual articulation of anger, justice, hope, and transformation.
This artwork was born in the sincerest moments of Syrians; the honesty of expression imbues the statue with immense artistic power that transcends any polished sculpture. This statue, in its current state, can be understood from the perspective of the Readymade in modern art, where an ordinary object (or in this case, an object that represented authority) is transformed into an artwork simply by re-framing or altering its context. The statue fell and its form changed due to a collective force, and this force transformed it from a mere symbol of authority into an artifact expressing resistance and liberation. The form in which the statue settled after its fall is not mere chaos; it is a visual embodiment of the idea of change and breakage. It visually tells us that something has been shattered, and that the era it represented ended violently. This accumulated concrete and twisted iron are not flaws; they are an essential part of its artistic narrative.
For future generations, this monument will be a vital space for learning and reflection. With the addition of interpretive plaques and documentary materials, it will provide a rich educational context that deepens historical awareness. Its existence also serves as a necessary resistance against attempts to erase and rewrite history; it is a tangible affirmation of an unerasable event, contributing to counter any future attempts to distort memory.
The toppling of the statue is intimately linked to the context of the conflict in Syria to overthrow the oppressive Assad regime, which has resulted in immense destruction and significant human suffering. The monument can serve as a reminder of the heavy price Syrians paid in their pursuit of change and liberation from injustice. It also prompts reflection on the causes and consequences of these events, deepening the collective memory still burdened by pain and loss.
A Vision for the monument
For these fundamental reasons, this artwork must be preserved in its current state without any modification (except for safety reasons), and at its strategic location, which the Assad regime intended for all who pass the main road to see. Any attempt to reshape the shattered statue would be tantamount to stripping it of its essential artistic and historical value. Its preservation as is, with all its distortions resulting from the fall, is what gives it power as a collective artwork and an honest witness to a historical moment that cannot be erased from the memory of Syrians.
The project focuses on preserving the site in its current condition, with added improvements to ensure safety, provide an educational and interactive experience for visitors, and ensure the monument remains visible from the main road. A fence can be erected around the site, designed to allow clear visibility of the statue from the outside, while preserving the realism of the scene. Elevated viewing and photography platforms can also be built outside the fence, providing excellent viewing angles of the statue and allowing for safe and comfortable commemorative photography.
Furthermore, a concise and impactful text explaining the statue’s story, the significance of its fall, and its connection to the Syrian Revolution can be drafted. This text should be historically neutral, factual, and presented in multiple languages. A large digital display could be created to show a short documentary film or an artistic video depicting the moment the statue fell, complete with historical context, live testimonies, visuals of its fall, and media coverage of the event.
In conclusion, transforming the Deir Atiyah statue into a monument is a necessary investment in Syria’s national memory and its future. It forms a bridge connecting the past with the present and looking towards the future, ensuring that the story of people’s resilience and liberation from oppression and darkness is told to future generations in Syria, the region, and the entire world.
Mansour Al-Omari: A Syrian human rights defender and legal researcher, holding an LLM in Transitional Justice and Conflict Law. Al-Omari has collaborated with numerous museums, exhibitions, and artists worldwide to raise international awareness about the Assad regime’s practices of arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearance, and its crimes against humanity. Al-Omari has also worked with international and Syrian human rights organizations to hold perpetrators of international crimes in Syria accountable.
In 2012, the Syrian government arrested and tortured Al-Omari for 356 days for documenting its atrocities while working as the supervisor of the Detainees’ Office at the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression.
The Fallen Assad Statue in Deir Atiyah: A Call to Preserve Syrian National Memory Enab Baladi.
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