How the Syrians Were Defeated—and Hafez al-Assad Won - The Syrian Observer

How the Syrians Were Defeated—and Hafez al-Assad Won - The Syrian Observer

When we first took to the streets in 2011, we weren’t just demanding a homeland for all—we were demanding liberation. Liberation from fear, from humiliation, from the crushing weight of authoritarianism that had governed every aspect of our lives under Hafez al-Assad and then his son Bashar. We believed that by confronting the monster, we would regain ourselves. For a brief, unforgettable moment, it felt possible. But now, more than a decade lat…