Majd Nemeh

December 8, 2024: A Dualism of Opportunity and Threat

“Any event [no matter its nature] is simultaneously an opportunity and a threat,” said a Syrian professor a few years ago. To seize the opportunity presented by the events of December 8, we should first recognize the accompanying threat and understand its facets. And before we extensively engage in political discussions and jostle to impose our opinions with respect to the structure of the upcoming political regime, we must ponder and address the societal issues that, if ignored, will impede building our country, especially in the midst of the “creative chaos” that we now live in.
So, what threat are we exactly facing? And what opportunity lies ahead? How can past mistakes be avoided? What is the most appropriate discourse style? This post seeks to address several issues that are directly related to ongoing social movement in Syria, in the hope of establishing a common ground on which everyone, as Syrians, can stand to engage in a meaningful discussion.

Al Muhajireen Neighbourhood : History & Heritage

Walking along its narrow, branching and ascending staircases, Al-Muhajireen is a unique Damascene neighborhood unlike any other. Its history stretches back to 1899 when Nazim Pasha, Damascus’ Ottoman governor at the time, decided to settle Muslims from the Greek island of Crete who immigrated as a result of sectarian violence on the island. Over time, the neighborhood developed into a blend of immigrants of various ethnic groups, mostly from the Balkans and Circassia (southwest Russia). Al-Muhajireen gained further importance after Nazim Pasha built Al-Muhajireen Palace, which later became the residence of Syria’s first elected president, Muhammad al Abid, who decided during his tenure in office (1932-1936) to build a tramway line that connected the center of Damascus to Al-Muhajireen. Overlooking the city of Damascus on Mount Qasioun, Al-Muhajireen is a mesmerizing neighborhood for locals.