Mouawiya Syasneh
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
Mouawiya Syasneh (Arabic: معاوية سياسني) is a Syrian citizen recognized for his role in the events that sparked the Syrian Civil War. In March 2011, Syasneh and friends spray-painted anti-government graffiti on the walls of their Daraa school. Syasneh was 14 years old at the time of the incident.[1] This act of defiance is often seen as a pivotal moment in the onset of widespread protests against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, which ultimately escalated into a devastating civil war. {{Citation needed}}
Background
[edit]Mouawiya Syasneh was born and raised in the southern Syrian city of Daraa, later referred to as the "cradle of the Syrian revolution."[2] Syasneh grew up in a conservative Sunni Muslim family in a community plagued by unemployment and limited opportunities for youth. Syasneh experienced the challenges of life under Assad's authoritarian rule. The arrival of security chief Atef Najib in Daraa, worsened conditions and intensified public dissatisfaction. [citation needed]
The Graffiti Incident
[edit]In February 2011, inspired by the Arab Spring protests in Egypt and Tunisia, Syasneh and his friends spray-painted the words "Ejak el door, ya doctor" ("It’s your turn, Doctor"), referring to Assad, who had trained as an ophthalmologist before becoming Syria's leader. Their act of defiance against Assad's regime was met with a swift and violent reaction.
They were detained for 26 days by Syrian secret police Mukhabarat, where they were reportedly tortured and mistreated. "The electric shock treatment was the worst," Syasneh recounted, adding, "They took me to the bathroom and it was really wet, and they would turn on the shower. They ran the current through the water and onto my back. I felt the shock wherever the water went." Thousands of people took to the streets demanding their release.[3] When the government violently suppressed these demonstrations, the unrest spread nationwide, marking the beginning of the Syrian Civil War.[4]
Role in the Syrian Civil War
[edit]The graffiti incident acted as a catalyst for the Syrian uprising. Though Syasneh had not intended to ignite a nationwide movement, his actions highlighted the deep resentment toward Assad’s oppressive regime. The protests in Daraa served as a foundation for a broader rebellion, eventually evolving into armed conflict.[5][6]
Syasneh later joined the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and participated in battles against regime forces. After his father, a retired architectural engineer, was killed in 2013 by a rocket while going to the mosque, Syasneh decided to take up arms. "I never thought about shooting anyone before that, but he was my whole life, and I wanted to fight for him," he said.[7]
Legacy
[edit]Syasneh’s graffiti action and the subsequent protests are a symbol of resistance. He continues to live in Daraa in his partially damaged childhood home with his widowed mother and siblings. [citation needed] The Syrian uprising and 13 year civil war began after Syasneh’s graffiti, ended in December 2024 with the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.[8]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Syria's Graffiti Boy Recalls Start of Deadly Conflict". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
- ^ Sanders, Tabitha (March 23, 2021). "The cradle of Syria's revolution: Daraa ten years on". The New Arab. Archived from the original on December 25, 2024. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
- ^ "How Syrian Teen's Graffiti Became Bashar al-Assad's Writing on the Wall". NDTV. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
- ^ "The Boy Who Started the Syrian War". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
- ^ "From Graffiti to Civil War: How a Teen's Act Sparked Chaos in Syria". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
- ^ "Syrian Civil War: How Teen Mouawiya Syasneh's Graffiti Led to Assad's Downfall". The Times of India. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
- ^ "Man Whose Youthful Protest Ignited Syria Uprising Admits Defeat". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
- ^ The Editors (Dec 16, 2024). "Syria's Civil War Gives Way to the Post-Assad Era". World Politics Review. Archived from the original on December 25, 2024. Retrieved December 31, 2024.