Syrien nach Assad: Was braucht es für den Frieden? ⚖️ Gespräch mit Maher Akraa-Meyer @maherakraa.bsky.social, Forscher und Journalist; Zaher Al Jamous, Journalistin und Hörbuchautorin; Abdulla Ibrahim, Senior Researcher am @gvagrad-ccdp.bsky.social 📅 3.6. 🕧 18:30-20:00 Anmeldung: bit.ly/4kbGyxa

(1/20) Dr. Yasser Abdulmajid from Douma says Syrian & Russian officials forced him to deny a 2018 chemical attack. This thread reveals how fear and coercion shaped his false testimony—and how he’s now speaking out.

🧵1 A dramatic shift has gripped Syria after the fall of the Assad regime on 8 December, leaving many violent jihadists feeling frustrated and 🔴 unsettled. A fresh report by The Economist (14 January 2025) sheds light on the political, security and religious contradictions shaping this “New Syria.”

1) Overview Years before Assad’s regime fell, human rights groups (e.g., Amnesty International, Syrian Network for Human Rights exposed 72 torture methods across 50+ detention centers. After the regime’s collapse in Dec 2024, new images & testimonies confirm a systematic pattern of brutality.

🎥 In an interview with Al Jazeera English, Syria's Interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani addressed the future of peace talks with Israel. What are your thoughts on this statement? Could this mark a new chapter in the region's history?

1/ 🟥 Red Cell, Black Cell: A chilling video from the infamous "Branch 251" (Al-Khatib Branch) of Syrian intelligence shows abandoned solitary confinement cells in red and black. These cells, once filled with detainees, are known for their cramped size, poor lighting, and horrific use of torture.

Statements from Shadi Al-Waisi, Syrian Interim Government Minister of Justice: What is the concept of implementing God’s law (Sharia)? 90% of Syrians are Muslims, and parliament will reflect their aspirations. Sharia will play a key role in the next phase. What do you think?

1/ 🟥 Red Cell, Black Cell: A chilling video from the infamous "Branch 251" (Al-Khatib Branch) of Syrian intelligence shows abandoned solitary confinement cells in red and black. These cells, once filled with detainees, are known for their cramped size, poor lighting, and horrific use of torture.

Damascus celebrates 2025 with the spirit of freedom. #Syria

1/ 🟡 Today, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha gifted the Golden Pectoral or a replica to Ahmad Al-Sharaa. This gesture holds profound political and cultural symbolism, reflecting Ukraine's ongoing fight for freedom and solidarity with Syria.

Today, the "General Command" of the Ministry of Defense in the Syrian caretaker government announced a list of officer promotions that included non-Syrian names. The list featured 3 foreign officers promoted to the rank of Brigadier General out of 5.

To understand the transformation of Ahmad al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammad al-Julani) and his role in shaping post-Assad Syria, we revisit a pivotal 2021 PBS documentary. Martin Smith’s Frontline interview offers rare insights into Julani’s journey, rivalries, and ambitions. 🧵

To understand the transformation of Ahmad al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammad al-Julani) and his role in shaping post-Assad Syria, we revisit a pivotal 2021 PBS documentary. Martin Smith’s Frontline interview offers rare insights into Julani’s journey, rivalries, and ambitions. 🧵

🧵 1/ Exclusive revelations from Syria: The Sunday Times has uncovered secret intelligence files exposing the terrifying extent of Assad’s Stasi-like surveillance state. Here’s what stood out to me: ⬇️

The so-called 'caretaker government' in Syria has forgotten its limited mandate. Ayesha Dabbas rejects diverse opinions on women's issues, undermining empowerment, while Anas Khattab speaks of restructuring the security apparatus as if they hold legitimacy.

🧵1️⃣ 🚨 Silent Vigil in Damascus: A Cry for Justice and Accountability Dozens of Syrians organized a silent vigil on Friday at Al-Hijaz Station in Damascus. They demanded: Revealing the fate of detainees and the disappeared. Protecting mass graves. Holding perpetrators accountable post-Assad regime.

🧵1️⃣ 🚨 Silent Vigil in Damascus: A Cry for Justice and Accountability Dozens of Syrians organized a silent vigil on Friday at Al-Hijaz Station in Damascus. They demanded: Revealing the fate of detainees and the disappeared. Protecting mass graves. Holding perpetrators accountable post-Assad regime.

One of the Sufi sheikhs of the Shadhili-Qadiri order was spotted outside the Nur al-Din Zengi Mosque in Damascus today, handing out 500 Syrian pounds after Friday prayers. In today’s economy, that’s just enough for... a heartfelt smile? #BlessingsBudget #DamascusVibes

Thread 🧵 The Shell: A Testament to Syria’s Darkest Corners 1/ The Shell: Memoirs of a Hidden Observer is now on Damascus sidewalks. A "powerful testimony" to oppression, it's a key work on Syria's political prisons and Arab prison literature.

Over 1,000,000 Captagon pills, confiscated from a factory linked to Maher al-Assad, have been destroyed, according to the New Syrian Government.

1️⃣ Early on Dec 25, a video claimed armed men stormed the Al-Khasibi shrine in Aleppo, killing 5 unarmed caretakers and burning the site. Presented as “recent,” it quickly fueled tensions. #Syria

Amid today’s sectarian events in various regions of Syria, hope remains. The people of Sweida, the people of (Jabal al-Arab), the (Men of Dignity), are the living example of Syrian nationalism. And they sing: "Today, hold your head high, you are a free Syrian!" This is the Syria we dream of.

Be cautious of sectarianism in Syria and the spread of hate speech on social media. Thousands of accounts are spreading poisonous hate and false, misleading information. Don't fall into the trap of division. Civil peace and justice must come first.

Be cautious of sectarianism in Syria and the spread of hate speech on social media. Thousands of accounts are spreading poisonous hate and false, misleading information. Don't fall into the trap of division. Civil peace and justice must come first.

Amid today’s sectarian events in various regions of Syria, hope remains. The people of Sweida, the people of (Jabal al-Arab), the (Men of Dignity), are the living example of Syrian nationalism. And they sing: "Today, hold your head high, you are a free Syrian!" This is the Syria we dream of.

1️⃣ Early on Dec 25, a video claimed armed men stormed the Al-Khasibi shrine in Aleppo, killing 5 unarmed caretakers and burning the site. Presented as “recent,” it quickly fueled tensions. #Syria

Over 1,000,000 Captagon pills, confiscated from a factory linked to Maher al-Assad, have been destroyed, according to the New Syrian Government.

Thread 🧵 The Shell: A Testament to Syria’s Darkest Corners 1/ The Shell: Memoirs of a Hidden Observer is now on Damascus sidewalks. A "powerful testimony" to oppression, it's a key work on Syria's political prisons and Arab prison literature.

🧵: Bashar al-Jaafari's Legacy of Lies 1/ 🗣️ al-Jaafari, one of the Assad regime’s top figures, exploited every platform to spread the propaganda of a murderous regime. I attended his UN press conferences in Geneva (2014-2021), where he labeled all opposition as "terrorists" and spewed hate speech.

🧵: Bashar al-Jaafari's Legacy of Lies 1/ 🗣️ al-Jaafari, one of the Assad regime’s top figures, exploited every platform to spread the propaganda of a murderous regime. I attended his UN press conferences in Geneva (2014-2021), where he labeled all opposition as "terrorists" and spewed hate speech.

Protest in the Qassaa neighborhood of Damascus following yesterday's events in Suqalabiyah. In the video, a protester chants, "We are Islam and Christianity, no to sectarianism."

1 Over the past years, I’ve studied dialogue design as a tool for fostering inclusive participation and shaping sustainable transitional phases. With Syria’s current call for a national dialogue after Assad’s fall, its significance cannot be overstated.

Protesters in Damascus chanted, "Your cross and your rifle," following reports of a Christmas tree being burned in Homs. Calls grow for Damascus authorities to address the incident urgently. #Syria #Damascus #Homs

1 Over the past years, I’ve studied dialogue design as a tool for fostering inclusive participation and shaping sustainable transitional phases. With Syria’s current call for a national dialogue after Assad’s fall, its significance cannot be overstated.

1️⃣ Lt. Gen. Talal Shafiq Makhlouf, one of the Assad regime’s most prominent military figures and former head of the Republican Guard, appears here after undergoing a so-called “settlement process.”

1️⃣ Lt. Gen. Talal Shafiq Makhlouf, one of the Assad regime’s most prominent military figures and former head of the Republican Guard, appears here after undergoing a so-called “settlement process.”

The discovery of Captagon manufacturing facilities continues. Another lab has been found in Yaafour, rural Damascus, previously controlled by the 4th Division under Maher al-Assad.

Idlib, the heart of Syria, embraced the displaced and refugees, symbolizing resilience and hope. A city rebuilt by its people, striving for freedom and dignity despite years of oppression and destruction. A home for all who dream of a free Syria.

With Walid Jumblatt's visit to Damascus today, let’s recall his iconic 2007 speech in Beirut, where he used sharp words to describe Bashar al-Assad. Today, he asserts he hasn’t forgotten those terms.

Political delegations continue to arrive in Damascus. Ahmad Al-Sharaa welcomes Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in the Syrian capital.

1/ 📍 A surprising reunion in Damascus. Ahmad Al-Sharaa, the commander of military operations in Syria, meets Farouq Al-Sharaa, the former Vice President, who has been absent from the political scene for years. Here's the full story. 👇

From the heart of Aleppo, Syrians celebrate their hard-earned freedom, achieved through immense sacrifices. This moment marks the triumph of resilience and the true value of liberty.

At the head of a delegation of Druze elders, the Sheikh al-Aql of the Druze sect, and his son Taymour, Walid Jumblatt arrives at the People's Palace in Damascus to meet with the General Commander of the new administration in Syria, Ahmed Al-Sharaa.

1️⃣ The official account of the General Command of Military Operations in Syria published photos from a meeting chaired by Ahmad Al-Sharaa with military factions. The discussion focused on the structure of a new Syrian military institution for the post-conflict era.

1️⃣ Following Ahmad Al-Sharaa’s rise as the de facto leader of Syria, a wave of political and administrative appointments has been issued. These appear to be distributed as quotas among influential military factions, sparking widespread discussions among Syrians about the new power-sharing dynamics.

Generalizations and hate-filled rhetoric only deepen divisions and hinder meaningful solutions. In diverse societies, we must address the root causes of violence and extremism, regardless of ideology or background.

This incident shows that extremism isn't tied to a specific religion or nationality. Violence stems from hate, whether ideological or personal. We must condemn the act, not a group, to promote justice and coexistence. #Justice #NoToHate

Today, from Umayyad Square in Damascus: The signs read: • On the right: “Yes to Syrian Dialogue” • In the center: “#Syrian_Women” • On the left: “Syria, a Civil Democratic State”

The streets and squares of Syria, from Hama to beyond, echo with the voices of freedom after the fall of dictatorship. Raise your voice high—you are a free Syrian.

I spoke with Austrian radio station Ö1 about Syria's Captagon trade, which financed Assad's regime for years. After the regime's fall, many labs were dismantled, and production stopped. Listen to under "Syriens Drogengeschäft" at this link: oe1.orf.at/player/20241...