Abdullah Alkafri, head of the Syrian cultural organization Ettijahat
Syrian cultural actors are calling for participation in shaping the country's cultural policies. Abdullah Alkafri from the Syrian cultural organization Ettijahat (long time partner of Mimeta) emphasizes in a Facebook post the urgent need to seize the current "opportunity" for cultural and artistic engagement.
He highlights the presence of significant creative energies that have persevered in challenging conditions over the past years, laying the groundwork for change. Alkafri stresses the importance of reclaiming public space, reexamining strategies for cultural work, and addressing priorities such as freedom of expression, civic engagement, and the development of a civil state. He also underscores the role of art in advocating for detainees and the forcibly disappeared.
He calls for cultural and artistic sectors to actively contribute to political and social transformation by building institutions capable of supporting change. Alkafri urges participation in the constitutional reform process to influence legal frameworks regarding cultural associations, unions, and education systems, ensuring they function independently from state control. He also stresses the importance of restoring cultural services alongside basic utilities like electricity and water, as culture is critical for addressing pressing societal issues.
In parallel, the initiative Syrian Cultural Gathering has been established as an independent, cultural, literary, artistic, and media-focused group. Its goal is to protect intellectual and creative freedoms, promote cultural development, and contribute to Syria’s social advancement. The gathering aims to restore and reorganize cultural institutions, highlight Syrian cultural heritage, and support its dissemination globally. Among its projects are reviving cultural spaces (cinemas, theaters, libraries, etc.), protecting Syria's creative legacy, and fostering a new Syrian identity based on unity and civic values, replacing the legacy of fear and division from the previous regime.
