Cultures multiply and spoken languages vary in Syria, reflecting the depth of cultural diversity that has extended for thousands of years, a richness that disappeared during recent decades when the former regime pursued a policy of forced erasure, targeting not only Syrians but their languages and diverse cultures in an attempt to dissolve and merge these communities into a single entity.
Syria is home to 15 spoken languages, alongside a wide range of local dialects. While Arabic is the official language, preserving local languages such as Kurdish, Syriac, and Turkmen is an important part of the cultural identity of Syria’s communities. This preservation also helps build a unified national identity rooted in cultural and ethnic diversity, using it as a source of strength and richness, while moving away from exclusion, division, and hate speech.
Hamdi Salem, who holds a doctorate in Arabic language studies, believes that “cultural diversity in Syria will reflect positively on the country now and in the coming period. It is necessary to apply the principle of equality and respect among all the ethnicities present in Syria, Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens, Chaldeans, Armenians, and others, which adds richness to the social fabric.”
Salem told +963 that “under Assad’s rule there was clear and obvious discrimination between sects and ethnicities, with deliberate attempts to erase the identity of many groups, creating a wide gap among Syrians that only widened after 2011 and the incitement campaigns that followed. All these realities must change now with the fall of the regime and the move toward building a civil democratic state that respects and protects everyone’s rights through fair laws and regulations.”
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Over more than 50 years in power, the former Syrian regime entrenched key concepts among Syrians of all backgrounds: the single leader, the single party, and slogans that favored one ethnicity over another. The regime used this to strengthen its authority and suppress citizens’ freedoms, including criminalizing and punishing those who held language courses in their mother tongue. In recent years, Syria’s cultural identity suffered major setbacks, with many cases documented of looting, smuggling, and destruction of artifacts, as well as the theft of traditional arts.
Human rights activist Ramzi Fakhrawi told +963 that “it is necessary to rebuild the relationship among Syria’s communities under the umbrella of citizenship, which is indeed what the recent constitutional declaration called for, giving trust to many Syrians who still fear a repeat of what happened under the Assad family’s rule.”
Fakhrawi added that “preserving Syria’s linguistic heritage through education and daily practice is extremely important. It is a key step in protecting Syria’s cultural memory and ensuring its continuity globally.” He also highlighted an important point: “Millions of Syrians who left the country after 2011 have preserved their cultural identity, customs, and traditions, which have become an essential part of Syrian social, economic, and political life in exile. In these new circumstances, Syrians have found themselves reshaping their identity, blending their culture with local cultures while retaining much of their traditions, reflecting how deeply rooted they are.”
