Since the most intense period of Syria’s civil war, Syrians living in opposition-held areas have experienced a unique sense of freedom compared to previous decades under President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Free expression, grassroots activism, and local governance structures have emerged across northwest Syria and northeastern Kurdish-held regions – although this fragile freedom now faces threats both internal and external pressures.
Since 2011, when the conflict first broke out, Assad’s government has lost significant parts of Syria to citizens fighting back against censorship, arrests, and constant surveillance that marked life under him. Local councils and civil society groups have played an invaluable role in maintaining daily life while supporting education initiatives as well as advocating for rights that were previously denied to their residents.
But the future of these freedoms remains unclear. In the northwest, where Turkish-backed factions operate, reports of authoritarian behavior and human rights abuses have surfaced, raising fears that one form of repression may be replaced with another. Meanwhile in Kurdish-held northeast, political tensions and foreign power interference – particularly from Turkey and the US – has created instability, sparking fears that civil liberties may be curtailed further.
Concerns are mounting about the internationalization of the Assad regime. Recently, several Arab nations have restored ties with Damascus under the pretence of maintaining regional stability; should Assad regain greater recognition and international legitimacy, his reign could further marginalize autonomous zones or invite military or political pressure for them to rejoin under central government control, placing hard-won freedoms at risk.
Underscoring this reality, Syria’s ongoing economic collapse coupled with limited humanitarian aid leaves many communities susceptible to coercion and radicalization. Some activists have been detained, others silenced by fear, while young people increasingly express disappointment about their future prospects.
Experts warn that without continued international support and protection of local governance in free areas, Syria could slide backwards into authoritarianism under either President Assad or other controlling forces. Lina Barakat notes: “Freedom has long been scarce commodity in Syria… Losing it again would be an irreparable setback.”
As Syria remains divided and fragile, a question remains: can freedom survive or will its seeds be crushed once more by power politics?
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