The Walls Have Ears

Syria’s fragile freedom and what comes next

Celebrations broke out on Sunday after President Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria collapsed. Daniel Berehulak/The New York Times

“Hush! The walls have ears.”
“Hush! They might take you beyond the sun.”

These were not just warnings—they were the unspoken commandments of survival during my childhood in Syria. Growing up under the Assad regime meant living in a world of whispers, where every word carried the weight of potential betrayal. For 24 years, including the first six of the revolution, I called Syria home. It was a home shaped by repression, where politics was taboo, dissent was suicidal, and the government-controlled not only our lives but also the narratives we were allowed to believe.

My childhood was, in some ways, ordinary. Like any Syrian kid, I recited the national anthem every Monday and Thursday in school, our chants laden with praise for Bashar al-Assad. His omnipresent image loomed from classroom walls to public squares, a perpetual reminder of the regime’s grip. Conversations about high prices blamed “greedy merchants,” while low prices were credited to the government’s magnanimity. Assad was to be feared, but always praised.

Yet, despite the regime’s suffocating presence, Syria’s beauty endured. For those who have never visited, it’s difficult to capture the warmth of a morning coffee with Fairuz’s songs playing in the background or the genuine smiles of neighbors in my hometown of Homs. People found ways to live, even thrive, with humor and resilience. I still think of those morning walks to school, filled with laughter and jokes. I wonder if I’ll ever feel that kind of joy again.

Today, Assad is gone, toppled after more than 50 years of the family’s dictatorship. Celebrations have erupted across Syria, and a new flag waves over the nation. But while the streets echo with cries of freedom, a deeper question lingers: Will liberty prevail?

The Legacy of Fear

Syria’s modern history has been marked by fear. In 1971, Hafez al-Assad seized power through a violent coup, establishing an authoritarian regime that crushed dissent and rewrote the constitution to consolidate the Ba’ath Party’s control over the state and society. When Hafez died in 2000, the Constitution was amended yet again—this time lowering the presidential age limit so his son, Bashar, could inherit the throne. Many hoped the younger Assad would usher in reform. Instead, he revealed himself to be as brutal as his father. Corruption became endemic, and political freedoms were extinguished.

When Syrians rose up in 2011, inspired by the Arab Spring, they sought not just to overthrow Assad but to reclaim their dignity. Few could have imagined that their cries for freedom would stretch into a 13-year ordeal marked by unspeakable horrors. Now, with Assad gone, Syrians are asking themselves what the future holds.

Freedom’s Many Faces

Freedom is complex. Philosophers distinguish between two key forms: negative liberty, the absence of interference in individual actions, and republican liberty, which ensures freedom from arbitrary domination.

Under Assad, Syrians had neither. Negative liberty was stifled by a vast surveillance state, while republican liberty was nonexistent. Assad ruled with unchecked power, jailing thousands without trial, operating secret prisons, and using the Constitution as a weapon to perpetuate his authority.

With Assad’s fall, Syrians have begun to reclaim some negative liberty. Public expression is less constrained, and the symbols of Assad’s rule—his statues, his slogans—are vanishing. But the deeper, more enduring question is whether republican liberty will take root.

The Shadow of a New Regime

The transitional government, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has declared itself in power until March 2025. There were no elections, no broad negotiations with opposition groups. HTS insists its rule is temporary, but history is full of examples where interim regimes became permanent autocracies. Will HTS honor its promise to hold democratic elections, or will Syrians simply trade one dictatorship for another?

The factions that overthrew Assad are largely Islamist, and while they may view the increased negative liberty as a blessing they brought about, they could suppress dissent if it begins to criticize them. This raises doubts about whether non-domination—the core of republican liberty—can truly take root in Syria.

Syria’s diversity complicates this issue. The country has always been home to a wide range of religions and ethnic groups. The mutual exclusivity of religions renders them incapable of leading the country without pluralism. This is my greatest fear.

Hope in Uncertain

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently called HTS’s statements “positive” but underscored the need for action. The international community, meanwhile, continues to push for United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254, which demands inclusive political dialogue.

But the real work must come from within Syria. Social change doesn’t happen overnight. Syrians need to actively engage in shaping their future, to demand accountability from their leaders, and to nurture institutions that protect liberty rather than stifle it.

The challenges are immense. Food, electricity, and basic necessities are scarce. Stability is essential, but it must not come at the cost of freedom. Livelihoods cannot become a bribe to buy silence. Syrians must refuse to let the mistakes of the past repeat themselves.

A Path Forward

The priority now is clear: build a sustainable, pluralistic state grounded in robust institutions. Syrians are grappling with shortages of food, electricity, and other basic necessities, striving to secure their livelihoods. Stability is essential to achieve this, but it must not distract them from shaping the future of Syria. They need to actively engage in the political process, express their aspirations, and foster dialogues to rebuild political life. Livelihoods must not become a bribe to buy their silence.

This is a pivotal moment in the country’s history, and vigilance is essential to ensure lasting change. The top priority should be establishing a sustainable free state governed by robust institutions, not the arbitrary whims of individuals. This is the most viable path to achieving not only economic growth and prosperity but also human dignity and liberty. For decades, Syrians lived in fear of walls that listened and regimes that silenced. Now, they have a chance to rebuild. The question is whether they will seize it.