Syrian dialogue forum banned under Assad relaunches
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A symbolic Syrian political forum that was banned under Bashar al-Assad relaunched on Wednesday, declaring its determination to work for democracy and freedoms, months after the former ruler's overthrow by Islamist-led forces.
"Today is the reopening of the Forum for Democratic Dialogue, 24 years after it was shut down," its president Joumana Seif told AFP at the relaunch in Damascus.
"This place is particularly symbolic," said Seif, a lawyer, from a packed room in the family home.
Her father Riad Seif founded the forum during a fleeting period known as the Damascus Spring that followed Assad's ascent to the presidency in 2000.
"It is here that the Syrian opposition came together... and that the Damascus Spring was snuffed out," she said.
"The fight continues to build the new democratic Syria that we dream of," said Seif, adding that the forum sought to be "a space of freedom".
After taking over from his father Hafez al-Assad, Bashar al-Assad initially opened up a space allowing for political salons to flourish alongside calls for reform in a country that had long grown accustomed to fear and silence.
But the period was short-lived, and Assad's government cracked down on dissent, arresting opponents and shutting down political activities.
Riad Seif, a former lawmaker, spent years in prison after organising weekly roundtables at his home on human rights issues.
The prominent dissident left Syria in 2012, the year after the government's brutal repression of pro-democracy protests triggered war, only returning after an Islamist-led alliance ousted Assad in December.
The new authorities have announced a five-year transitional period under the leadership of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and appointed an interim government dominated by his inner circle.
Wednesday's forum was dedicated to "civil peace and transitional justice", key issues in the fragile country after nearly 14 years of crushing conflict.
Researcher Radwan Ziadeh told the forum that "launching the process of transitional justice in Syria is extremely important", adding that "the era of impunity is over".
Munif Melhem, 75, who was among the audience, expressed concern that "measures taken over the past four months do no augur the establishment of a modern, civil state" and the preservation of "freedoms and democracy".
"This forum can open the door to dialogue to unify Syrians around a modern state project," said the former political prisoner, who had taken part in the forum's activities in 2001.