To the legislative and executive authorities in Syria,
We call for the adoption of a clear national law that protects the symbols of the Syrian state as collective symbols representing all Syrians, the sovereignty of the nation, its unity, and the sacrifices of its people — independent of any government or political authority.
Syria and its people have paid an enormous price throughout years of war and division: more than 14 million displaced Syrians, over 1.5 million martyrs, tens of thousands missing, and hundreds of thousands injured or permanently disabled as a result of the conflict. For this reason, any public insult toward the symbols of the state, or any rhetoric threatening the unity and stability of the country, cannot be treated as a trivial matter. Syria has paid in blood, suffering, and destruction to preserve its existence and territorial unity.
The Syrian flag is not merely a piece of fabric; it is a symbol connected to the sacrifices, pain, and hopes of millions of Syrians who dream of security, stability, and a just state that protects the dignity of all citizens.
Accordingly, we call for:
- The enactment of a law criminalizing the public insult or desecration of Syrian state symbols, including the national flag, the state emblem, and sovereign official documents, while ensuring that such laws are not used to suppress peaceful freedom of expression or legitimate political criticism.
- Holding accountable any individual, group, or organization that deliberately incites sectarianism, racism, hatred, or division among the Syrian people, as such actions threaten civil peace and national unity.
- Imposing strict legal penalties on any party or person who threatens the stability of the country or seeks to drag society toward chaos, violence, or fragmentation.
- Affirming that all components of Syrian society are equal in rights and duties, and that Syria’s ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity must remain a source of strength and unity, not conflict.
Protecting the symbols of the state does not mean protecting governments; it means protecting the nation itself, honoring the immense sacrifices made by Syrians, and striving to build a stable and secure country that preserves the dignity of its people and the unity of its land.