Anniversary of the Tunisian Revolution: Syria gives us hope that one day we will be truly free

Another anniversary of the Tunisian revolution has arrived, and it is marked by a bitter sense of loss and foreboding.

Under the post-coup dictatorship of President Kais Saeid, the fall of the Ben Ali regime in 2011 after weeks of popular protests is no longer celebrated with joyous gatherings, but with demonstrations that are often banned and repressed.

Saied, once a “candidate of the revolution,” abolished the special status of January 14; Instead of celebrating the historic moment that shook Tunisia and the entire region, it is now just another working day.

But this year, the bittersweet anniversary has a different flavor. The triumph of another revolution, part of a series of uprisings inspired by the example of Tunisia, and the escape of another dictator bring with them a revival of hope and a strengthening of resolve.

After 14 long years of struggle and sacrifice, the Syrian people have achieved what many once thought impossible: the overthrow of the brutal regime of Bashar al-Assad.

This victory represents the culmination of more than a decade of resistance and resilience; the triumph of the desire for freedom and dignity despite overwhelming odds; and a revival of the hopes of millions of people across the region and their dreams for justice, long shattered by counter-revolutions and coups.

Syria’s suffering and the high price paid for its liberation from authoritarianism – once used by tyrants as a warning against any calls for reform – today serve as a source of inspiration and hope and a lesson that the people’s desire for dignity and freedom is not theirs can be crushed by brutal force, barrel bombs, foreign support or demonization.

Revolutions cannot be defeated

Changes may be delayed and increase costs, but they cannot be avoided forever. In the words of Aboul-Qacem Echebbi, Tunisia’s “Poet of Love and Revolution,” “If people one day desire life, fate must surely follow their call.”

Tunisians, like other peoples in the region, celebrated alongside Syrians as the incredible news of Assad’s fall spread. Just as Tunisia’s groundbreaking revolution 14 years ago sparked hope and inspiration across the region, today Syria’s victory breathes new life into a battered and suppressed Arab Spring.

Building a new, stable political system can take many decades. This is the lesson of all revolutions throughout history

The resilience of the Syrian people to overthrow Assad sends a powerful message: Revolutions could fail or fail, they could last years or decades, and they could come at enormous costs – but they can never be defeated.

The Arab Spring is far from over, and the lessons of its setbacks and Syria’s victory will resonate across the Arab world for many years to come.

While Syria now faces the daunting task of rebuilding the country and establishing an inclusive, stable system, Tunisia is struggling with authoritarianism and incompetence.

After the revolution, undeniable successes were achieved, particularly in terms of building an inclusive, pluralistic political system. But political gridlock, unfulfilled economic expectations, counter-revolutionary conspiracies and the rise of populism have caused the democratic transition to fail.

Cyclic pattern

Discussing the evolution of the Tunisian revolution, with all its ups and downs, would take many more pages – but suffice it to say that the recent victory, which was unexpected for many, should be a warning, just like the Syrian revolution both Both gains and immense losses have been brought by those who want to write off the Tunisian revolution and the Arab Spring.

Revolutions do not achieve their goals overnight. A revolution is not a linear process but a dialectical process between continuity and discontinuity of history.

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Transitions are not linear, but cyclical. Revolutions are followed by counter-revolutions, when forces of change fight forces that retreat. Building a new, stable political system can take many decades. This is the lesson of all revolutions throughout history.

As Tunisians prepare to take to the streets on the 14th anniversary of their revolution, hundreds of political opposition leaders, including my father Rached Ghannouchi, along with activists, journalists, judges, lawyers and other critics of the regime, continue their arbitrary actions arrested or prosecuted by a subjugated judiciary for refusing to accept the will to return Tunisia to the days of pre-revolution dictatorship.

Their determination demonstrates the enduring spirit of the Arab Spring and shows that the pursuit of freedom, justice and democracy is a long and difficult road.

For them, Syria brings new hope that the struggle of those who sacrificed their freedom and their lives for the dream of social justice will not be in vain – and that one day, sooner or later, we will see the joyful scenes of liberation Syrian prisons will later witness similar scenes in Tunisia and throughout the region.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.