December 8, 2024 ended more than 50 years of dictatorship in Syria. Nis president Bashar al-Assad was overthrown he left after oneself a country destroyt of 14 years of civil warNow the Swedish wants-Syrian diaspora associationen Al Seeraj Sweden to contribute to rebuilding the homeland and ena anda divided population.
On December 8, 2024, Syria's dictator, Bashar al-Assad, was overthrown, and Syrians worldwide celebrated the end of more than 50 years of dictatorship. But after the euphoria, what remains is to rebuild a country destroyed by 14 years of civil war, and to unite a population divided along ethnic, religious and political lines.
In Sweden, Syrian diaspora associations are committed to bringing the population together in the reconstruction of their homeland. One of these is the The Malmö-based association Lyktan, also known by their Arabic name Al Seeraj Sweden.
When Utvecklingsmagasinet meets co-founder Hazem Younes, he has recently returned home after a joint trip to Syria with Syrian diaspora associations from all over the world.
During the trip, Hazem Younes met with local civil society organizations with different ethnic and religious affiliations. Bringing people together in Syria regardless of background – that is exactly what the diaspora in Europe can contribute, Hazem believes.
- When I went to Syria, I talked about principles and tools for democracy. We talked about human rights, gender equality and equality. About accepting each other regardless of religion, skin color and language. That's what Syria needs, he says.
Collaboration with the diaspora can benefit development organizations
Hazem Younes was born in Syria to one Palestineso-called dad and Syrian mumBefore Hazem came to Sweden in 2013, he worked as diplomat for the Palestinian Foreign Administration in Damascus, Syria, and Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He was also a volunteer at Al Seeraj in Syria.
Association was founded at the beginning of the Syrian revolution and focused on providing first aid and medical support to peaceful protesters who had been injured in regime attacks, according to Hazem.
In Sweden, they organize Al Seeraj cultural activities to combat prejudice and racism. The association still works to promote democracy in Syria. In addition to its non-profit commitment, it has Hazem Younes has worked in public education since 2017, and now he wants to take the public education concept to Syria.
– Within "In public education, you work with culture, democracy and human rights, equality and environmental issues. That's what we need in Syria," he says.
He clarifies that the diaspora cannot do it alone, but needs to involve civil society in Syria. He sees an advantage in Swedish-Syrians being involved in promoting contact between the larger development organizations and local Syrian associations, as the diaspora has knowledge of the local culture and language.
Want to build hospitals and cohesion
One challenge in the reconstruction effort is to unite a population that is divided ethnically, religiously and politically. The divisions were already evident in March 2025, when fighting between the transitional government and pro-Assad militias in Latakia province displaced and killed more than 1000 people, most of them civilians.
According to Hazem, the Assad regime used Syria's minorities to create conflict between different groups in the country.
– Bashar al-Assad wanted to show that he was the one who took care of the minorities. But the regime attacked anyone who was not on their side, regardless of their background, he says.
In addition to public education about rights and equality, Hazem Younes advocates investing in short vocational training courses in Syria. This way, people can participate in rebuilding important infrastructure, such as the electricity grid – and such projects can also be a way to bring together the country's ethnic and religious groups, Hazem believes.
He tells how, for example, he is working to engage Syrian Sunni Muslim businessmen from the diaspora in sponsoring the renovation of a hospital in the city of Salamiyah, where most people are Shia Muslims.
– In this way, we can show our people in Syria that we can work together for our country and our people, he says.
“Civil society is the key”
Since the revolution and civil war broke out in 2011, over 6 million Syrians have been forced to flee their homeland, according to the UN refugee agency. UNHCROf these, most live in neighboring countries such as Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan, but many have moved on to Europe and Sweden.
Hazem Younes is aware that not everyone in the Syrian diaspora necessarily agrees on the future of their homeland.
– There are absolutely many challenges. We in the diaspora are also different. There are people who think that what is happening now is not good and agree with the Assad regime. There are people who are afraid that jihadists will lead Syria. And there are those who do not think we need to work on democracy. So it is not easy to gather so many people, he says.
When he is still optimistic, it is due to the belief that the reconstruction projects can unite the people of Syria – and not least the potential of civil society, both in Syria and among the diaspora.
– We are giving this transitional government a chance, but we will always criticize directly if they create problems. We will not be silent. V"Civil society is a key word for Syria's future if we want human rights, gender equality and equality for different peoples. Therefore, it is important that Sweden and the EU strengthen Syrian civil society," he says.
About Al Seeraj Sweden
Al Seeraj Sweden is a non-profit organization founded in 2015. The organization arranges cultural activities and works to promote justice and combat racism in Sweden.
Before the fall of the Assad regime, Al Seeraj also carried out advocacy work to draw attention to the conditions in Syria, including by participating in conferences in Sweden and at EU level.
Al Seeraj were also active in Syria, where the association offered first aid and medical support to peaceful protesters injured by regime attacks. The association then developed into a broader humanitarian and development organization, which helped internally displaced persons and civilians during the civil war.
Al Seeraj has applied for grants from Sida and the German development agency GiZ for reconstruction projects in Syria.
Curious about the work to promote freedom of expression in Syria? Read Agnes Fältmans interview with staff at the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM).
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