DAMASCUS — A statue of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, father of current President Bashar al-Assad, was toppled by protesters in the Jaramana neighborhood of Damascus, marking a rare public act of defiance in the capital.
The incident, reported on Saturday, underscores simmering discontent in Syria despite the government’s tight control over much of the country. Jaramana, a suburb known for its diverse population, has largely remained under government control throughout the Syrian conflict.
Details surrounding the protest and the subsequent toppling of the statue remain limited, but the act highlights ongoing grievances against the Assad family’s decades-long rule.
Hafez al-Assad, who governed Syria from 1971 until his death in 2000, is a polarizing figure. While his regime is credited with centralizing power and maintaining stability, critics accuse it of widespread human rights abuses and authoritarianism.
The removal of the statue adds to a series of symbolic acts of resistance seen in parts of Syria, as frustrations with economic hardships and governance persist across the war-torn nation. Syrian authorities have yet to comment on the incident.