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Yes, We Let the “Old Tiger” Leave Damascus Wounded
Syrian opposition figure Mamoun al-Homsi, known as “Abu Yassin,” has left Damascus for Canada after a long struggle against the martial law and political repression imposed on Syrians for decades by the regimes of Hafez al-Assad and Bashar al-Assad.
Al-Homsi returned to Damascus about a year ago after being displaced from the city several times under the former regime. However, his latest return did not last long. Instead of finding support and recognition, he faced an even harsher reality: his office was confiscated, and excavation work began on land he says was seized unlawfully, in implementation of decisions dating back to the former regime’s rule.
In 2001, Mamoun al-Homsi called for the lifting of the state of emergency and the guarantee of public freedoms. He also went on hunger strike in protest against the regime’s repressive policies. On August 9 of that year, he was arrested and stripped of his parliamentary immunity. On March 20, 2002, the Damascus Criminal Court sentenced him to five years in prison.
As a result, al-Homsi became the first Syrian parliamentarian to be tried in a political case and stripped of his immunity without the case being referred to the full assembly of the People’s Assembly. His assets were also confiscated, despite the fact that he had been a wealthy businessman.
When the Syrian revolution erupted, al-Homsi declared his support for it from its earliest days. After the fall of the regime, the Damascus Finance Directorate sealed his office in the al-Azbakiya district, citing a confiscation order issued in 2008 that covered his office, company, and several other properties.
According to reports, transitional justice measures have so far failed to return his property or provide him with redress. This ultimately led him to leave Damascus once again—after years of displacement, imprisonment, and confiscation.
A year ago, a large sign on one of Damascus’s buildings caught the attention of a *Zaman al-Wasl* reporter. It read: **“Welcome, Abu Yassin. Call me.”** The sign led the reporter to Mamoun al-Homsi, who welcomed him warmly before giving him an extensive interview that was later published.
The question remains: What will we tell our children about those who opposed tyranny and paid the price for their positions? Will we tell them that we left this “old tiger” alone, and then allowed him to leave Damascus wounded?
