Former Syrian Deputy President Abdul Haleem Khaddam, who defected, described his country’s regime as “terrorist and an occupying system.” He called on Syrians to reclaim what their fathers and ancestors did to liberate Syria, rebuild it, and restore its role in all Arab and international arenas.
In a message addressed to Syrians on Wednesday on the occasion of the holidays, Khaddam stated, “I congratulate you on your holidays, and my heart drips with pain and bitterness at the continuation of your suffering, especially the pursuit and imprisonment faced by the youth of Syria for no reason other than dreaming of building a secure future where they weave their lives and the life of their country under a secure and stable system.”
Addressing the Syrian youth, he added, “Stand firm, for the day of victory is near (…) Stand firm, for you are shaping your future (…) and it is you alone who must think about the future, work, and rise to create a prosperous future not only for yourselves but for your country and your entire nation because Syria and its future are connected to you.”
He urged them to “struggle for the homeland, for liberation, for the salvation of Syria, and to break the wall of fear.” He stated that “the ruler is more fearful, and the more his fear increases, the more his oppression intensifies. As his oppression increases, your determination must strengthen, and your determination to confront him and achieve victory over him must grow.”
Khaddam added in his message that “Syrians today live in a country where sanctities are violated, justice and rights are lost.”
