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41-739: The Assyrian Democratic Organization has long since faced upheavals by the ruling Assad family and bans on its activity. The party is currently based in Qamishli as part of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria , and has been part of the Syrian National Coalition since October 2011. Currently, the ADO boasts of membership of around 5000, advocates for the formation of civil, secular Syrian state, and enjoys good relations with Western countries such as

82-533: A bureaucracy that was marked by a distinct cult of personality , uncharacteristic in modern Syrian history . Images, portraits, quotes and praises of Assad are displayed everywhere from schools to public markets and government offices; and Hafez al-Assad is referred as the "Immortal Leader" and the " al-Muqaddas (Sanctified One)" in official Assadist ideology. Hafez re-organised the Syrian society in militaristic lines and persistently invoked conspiratorial rhetoric on

123-550: A ceremony commemorating its anniversary. After the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War, the ADO under the leadership of Gawrieh took a neutral stance on the conflict, calling for a peaceful resolution. Gawrieh had previously been one of the leading secular figures of the Damascus Declaration , he however refused to join the leftist National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change . ADO's involvement in

164-528: A local mediator and his political activities. All members of the extended Assad family stem from Ali Sulayman and his second wife Naissa, who came from a village in the Syrian Coastal Mountains . During his early reign in the 1970s, Hafez al-Assad created patronage networks of Ba'ath party elites figures loyal to his family. Members of Assad family established control over vast swathes of the Syrian economy and corruption became endemic in

205-549: A new national discourse based on unifying Syrians under "a single imagined Ba’athist identity" and Assadism . Fervently loyalist paramilitaries known as the Shabiha (tr. ghosts) deify the Assad dynasty through slogans such as " There is no God but Bashar! " and pursue psychological warfare against non-conformist populations. About Hafez's siblings who died early—Bayat, Bahijat and an unknown sister—almost nothing

246-500: A result, there are far fewer avenues of free political activism for ordinary Syrians as compared to other Arab states. Until recently, political activism was shunned by many people; instead preferring the stability offered by the regime. The rise of internet and satellite channels and proliferation of civil society groups and independent political activists during the 2000s increasingly began to challenge state monopoly on information, which have led to rising political dissidence amongst

287-692: A statement arguing that "the holding of the general elections is not only against the constitution issued by the Syrian regime in 2011, but also to send a message to the international community and spread its legitimacy among the Syrian people. The demonstrations in Sweden and other areas are real proof of their rejection of the current regime in Damascus." ADO continues in its original mission to advocate for Assyrian rights and recognition, as well as commemorate past massacres such as Seyfo and Simele . Assad family The al-Assad family , also known as

328-531: A syncretic sect with links to early Shi'ism . Since coming to power in 1970, Assad family traditionally used sectarian loyalty from the Alawite sect as a vital component to legitimize their dynastic rule. Many Sunni loyalists have been assigned to crucial posts in the bureaucracy, security forces, military , judiciary, etc. in-order to consolidate Assad family's grip on power. In no other country in recent memory ... not Mao’s China , nor Tito ’s Yugoslavia , has

369-590: Is affiliated with the Asayish and the Syriac Union Party . The party was also subject to arbitrary arrest and detention by Syrian forces on more than one occasion; on May 20, 2011, the party's headquarters in Qamishly were raided, and 13 members were arrested after participating in a peaceful demonstration the previous day. A similar raid occurred two years later in 2013 by several militias aligned with

410-595: Is publicly known. The Makhloufs belong to the Alawi Haddad tribe, both Hafez and Rifaat are related through marriage to the Makhloufs. The Makhlouf family rose from humble beginnings to become the financial advisor to Hafez al-Assad after the former President married Makhlouf's sister. The family headed by Mohammad Makhlouf has established a vast financial empire in the telecommunication, retail, banking, power generation, and oil and gas sectors. The net worth of

451-425: The 1970 coup d'etat that ousted his rival Salah Jadid ; Hafez al-Assad developed a Stalinist -style personality cult around him; which depicted him as the father figure of Syrian nation. After Hafez's death, the personality cult was extended towards his son, Bashar al-Assad . Monuments, pictures, statues, symbols and billboards of both the leaders extensively pervade the Syrian society; designed to consolidate

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492-554: The 2003 invasion of Iraq . The opposition came as a result of the division of Assyrians into two distinct groups, namely "Assyrians" and " Chaldeans ". In a statement released on August 31, ADO called for Assyrian organizations in the Assyrian homeland and diaspora to appeal to authorities in Iraq to undo the division and declare Assyrians as one sole ethnic group. In 2010, ADO was stopped by Syrian security and prevented from holding

533-710: The Assad dynasty , is a Syrian political family that has ruled Syria since Hafez al-Assad became president of Syria in 1971 under the Ba'ath Party . After his death, in June 2000, he was succeeded by his son Bashar al-Assad . The al-Assads are originally from Qardaha , Latakia . They belong to the Kalbiyya tribe. The family name Assad goes back to 1927, when Ali Sulayman changed his last name to al-Assad, Arabic for "the lion", possibly in connection with his social standing as

574-682: The United States . Founded in 1957 in the town of Qabre Ḥewore by university students and other intellectuals, the Assyrian Democratic Organization was founded with the hopes of having Assyrians federally recognized as a group under the Syrian government, as well as stressing unity of Assyrians across all denominations. The party was formed as a response to the developments of pan-Arabism in Syria, and increased pressure for Assyrians under Arabization campaigns and

615-586: The 1950s, Syrian Alawites started becoming influential in the Syrian Armed Forces and Ba'ath party . Led by Alawite military officers like Salah Jadid. Ba'athist factions staged a series of coups during the 1960s and built up a one-party state . The party cemented its total control over the state and society by purging civilian elites, pursued an aggressive propaganda policy of "state-nationalist indoctrination" and established patronage networks based on sectarian lines to mobilise support. Following

656-506: The 2000s worsened the corruption; since the chief grantees of the outcomes were businessmen and relatives close to the Assad family; such as Rami Makhlouf . Unlike other Arab dictatorships, this feature of the Baath regime and total centralisation of power in the hands of the Assad patriarchs had enabled it to instill apoliticism amongst its citizens; where the ritualisation of state slogans and symbolism had led to de facto compliance. As

697-687: The AANES. Gawrieh had previously been banned from entering the region in July of that year, and he was scheduled to meet with the German consulate in Erbil . Despite the AANES aiming to push blame on the Kurdish Regional Government , the ADO condemned AANES for the dispute and called on authorities to reverse the ban and uphold the ideals of the administration. In 2022, on the eve of Akitu ,

738-525: The ADO and the Syriac Union Party signed a Document of Political Understanding, which aimed to bolster mutual cooperation through recognizing the situation of Assyrians in Syria and the various names in use (Assyrian, Chaldean, Syriac). The agreement followed discussions between the two parties under US mediation, and was hailed as significant for preserving Assyrian communities in Syria despite threats of Kurdish reproachment. Gawrieh stated that

779-552: The Arab Council in al-Jazeera and the Euphrates. In December of that year, ADO condemned a speech made by Bashar al-Assad at Al-Uthmaniyah Madrasa that espoused Arab nationalist sentiments. The ADO accused Assad of aiming to cause discord amongst Syria's ethnic and religious components, and put Assyrians at risk of further violence. In 2021, Gawrieh, than the leader of ADO, was prevented from entering Iraqi Kurdistan by

820-411: The Assad dynasty; and reveres the Assad patriarchs as the founding fathers of modern Syria. The Assad family originates from Ali Sulayman al-Wahsh, Hafez al-Assad's father, who was born in 1875 and lived in the village of Qardaha in the coastal Syrian mountains. The locals reportedly nicknamed him "Wahsh", Arabic for "wild beast", because he was physically strong and a good fighter. Al-Wahsh remained

861-671: The Document was a message to the Assyrian homeland and diaspora, and was commended by himself as well as Bashir Isshaq Sa'di and Sara Barsom of the Assyrian Women's Office. In 2024, ADO participated in a webinar hosted by the Syrians for Truth and Justice Organization (STJ), in which Gawrieh condemned Turkish airstrikes on AANES and discussed the state of Assyrians in Syria due to the airstrikes, and how it impacted their presence in

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902-411: The Syrian Civil War mediation talks set it apart from other parties due to its position as a minority political party, and its representation of Christian Assyrians in the Syrian landscape. However, in its course, the ADO began to take a stand against the Syrian regime and a routine of neighborhood watches, arming young Assyrians with weapons for protection. In The National News , Akkad Abdul Ahad, who ran

943-522: The Syrian government. On December 19, 2013, Gawrieh was arrested by Syrian authorities in Qamishli. His arrest was condemned by Assyrian organizations, human rights organizations, as well as other countries such as the United States. Hadi al-Bahra , then president of the coalition, condemned his arrest, stating that it would prevent any long-lasting political solutions to the Syrian Civil War. He

984-495: The Syrian identity itself; due to the duplication of reality. In addition to criminalising any and all critiques of the regime; the modes of conveying messages between the state and civil society are restricted strictly within bounds of what is officially acceptable. The state further banned private political opinions critical of the regime and encourages citizens to report relatives and friends who exhibit undesirable attitudes. The policies of economic liberalization implemented during

1025-637: The ancient Assyrians to stress continuity in Beth Nahrain , and aims to see an Assyrian homeland in the Middle East; the party's founding in Syria meant that greater room was given to promote Assyrian nationalism than under the Turkish government in Mardin and Tur Abdin . The party's activities would eventually cause strain in politics and the Assyrian diaspora , which lead into a split between

1066-432: The country. Gawrieh had previously indicated fears that Turkish airstrikes could permanently alter demographics in the northeastern part of the country, and could create greater issues regarding property rights post-conflict. In regards to the 2024 Syrian Parliamentary elections, the Assyrian Democratic Organization (ADO) have strongly rejected the elections given tensions surrounding President Bashar al-Assad. Gawrieh issued

1107-551: The dangers of foreign-backed plots abetted by fifth columnists and promoted the armed forces as a central aspect of public life. Following the death of Hafez, the personality cult was inherited by his son and successor Bashar al-Assad who is hailed by the party as the "Young Leader" and "Hope of the People". Highly influenced by the model of the North Korean Kim dynasty , official propaganda ascribes divine features to

1148-575: The family name until the 1920s, when it was changed to al- Assad , Arabic for " lion ". Because of Sulayman's reported strength and marksmanship, he was respected in his village. At the outbreak of World War I , the Ottoman governor of the Aleppo Vilayet sent troops to the area to collect taxes and round up recruits. The troops were reportedly fought off by Sulayman and his friends who were only armed with sabres and old muskets. Because Sulayman

1189-510: The formation of the United Arab Republic . The party espoused an ideology of secularism, and the origins of the party's thought can be linked to other prominent Assyrian nationalists such as Naum Faiq , Freydun Atturaya , Farid Nazha , and Ashur Yousif . The party initially began as an underground movement amongst Assyrian communities, but over time, activities and celebrations became much more public. ADO utilized symbolism of

1230-400: The intensity of the personality cult reached such extremes. Asad’s image, speaking, smiling, listening, benevolent or stern, solemn or reflective, is everywhere. Sometimes there are half a dozen pictures of him in a row. His face envelops telephone poles and trucks, churches and mosques. His is the visage a Syrian sees when he opens his newspaper. — Middle East Insight magazine During

1271-602: The name debate began in 1975, the conflict was amplified by the 1980's with the death of Aslan Noyan; Noyan had allegedly planned to leak negative information on ADO to Swedish authorities, and many held the party accountable for his death. Eventually, the Swedish government would declare ADO a terrorist organization, and the party's leadership faced challenges with the ADP's pro-Ba'ath stance and candidates. In 1998, ADO met with Vartan Oskanian , former Foreign Minister of Armenia , and

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1312-640: The names Assyrier and Syrianer in Sweden . In 1978, the party split into the Assyrian Democratic Party , led by Adam Homeh and stressed sectarianism through the belief of superiority of Eastern Assyrians over Western, who lead much of the ADO. The Aramean movement can be partially considered a reaction to ADO's secular ideology by the Syriac Orthodox Church , who stressed ties to religion as part of Syriac identity. Although

1353-454: The notion of "Assad's Syria". Observers view the state propaganda efforts as a strategy for securing the compliance of the masses and identifying the Syrian nationhood with the Assad dynasty. On the other hand, exaggerations of the propaganda and ever-deepening importance attached to upholding the personality cult around the Assad patriarchs have resulted in the simultaneous de-emphasis on

1394-657: The party's newsletter, stated "We are against the regime, but many Christians are afraid of change, of what comes after the regime, of who will rule Syria." ADO joined the Syrian National Council upon its founding in October 2011, being part of other opposition groups based in Istanbul. The Assyrian Democratic Organization has been in opposition to the Sutoro police force during the fight against ISIS, as it

1435-465: The public and private sectors. After Hafez al-Assad's death, family connections continued to be important in Syrian politics. Several close family members of Hafez al-Assad also held vital positions in the government since his rise to power, an arrangement which exists to the present day. Syrian bureaucracy and business-community are also dominated by members of the Assad dynasty and individuals affiliated with them. Hafez Al-Assad built his regime as

1476-569: The two parties met to discuss Armenian-Assyrian relations across history and the awareness of ADO among officials in the Armenian government . In the same month, the party condemned the French government and prime minister Lionel Jospin for avoiding the use of the word genocide in context of the Armenian genocide . In 2005, ADO opposed the creation of the Constitution of Iraq following

1517-719: The younger generations. Describing the hardships to raise the political consciousness of Syrian citizens by contrasting their situation with other Arab protestors, Caroline, a Syrian Christian and civic activist imprisoned by regime during the 2011–12 Arab Spring protests , states: "Before the revolution in Egypt , people were allowed to gather, had political parties; people were exposed to political life. In Syria, we were away from politics. We were raised in Syria and our parents used to tell us that we shouldn't talk with anyone about our religion or about politics" Since Hafiz al-Assad's seizure of power in 1970 ; state propaganda has promoted

1558-417: Was eventually released three years later, in June 2016. In March 2017, two ADO offices in Qamishli and al-Malikiyah were shut down by Rojavan authorities due to a lack of a permit. On 12 April, an official in the governing Movement for a Democratic Society (TEV-DEM) met with Gabriel Moushe Gawrieh , head of the ADO, and discussed the incident and the "need to respect the laws of the administration". It

1599-456: Was from the district of Haffeh. They had three sons and two daughters. His second wife was Na'isa, twenty years younger than him. She was the daughter of Uthman Abbud from the village of Al-Qutailibiyah , a dozen kilometres further up the mountain. They had a daughter and five sons. Hafez was born on 6 October 1930 and was the fourth child. Al-Assad family is affiliated with the Alawite sect,

1640-432: Was respected, he was a local mediator between quarreling families. He was also one of the local chieftains who were the de facto rulers of the area. The chieftains from the powerful families would provide protection to their neighbours and in return they gained loyalty and respect. He lived until 1963, long enough to see his son's rise to power. He married twice and over three decades had eleven children. His first wife Sa'ada

1681-598: Was the first time TEV-DEM officials met with the ADO. Basheer al Saady, a member of the party, had previously discussed how continuous persecution had pressured Assyrians to leave Syria, stating how they had lost hope for a brighter future, especially after ISIS. In July 2020, the ADO joined an alliance of political parties called the Syrian Front for Peace and Freedom , which also included the Kurdish National Council , Syria's Tomorrow Movement , and

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