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Zarqa Sabahiya: A Voice from the Syrian Coast – 'We Want to Live with Dignity'
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Expressions of sectarian hate directed at Zarqa Sabahiya, a woman from Syria’s coastal region, sparked widespread outrage both locally and internationally amid the tragic events
Zarqa Sabahiya, a grieving Syrian mother who recently captured public attention, received a delegation at her home offering condolences for the loss of her children and grandchild. Addressing the visitors, including Latakia official Mohammad Othman, she delivered an emotional message, saying: "You are all my children."
Appearing in a widely shared video with remarkable strength and composure, Sabahiya emphasized that her family is not concerned with past or present political regimes; their sole aspiration is to live with dignity.
According to Syria’s official news agency "SANA," Latakia official Mohammad Othman extended condolences to the bereaved mother, accompanied by a member of the Supreme Committee for Civil Peace and the director of the province’s political office.
Othman expressed deep sympathy and reaffirmed the commitment of Syria’s interim caretaker government to prosecuting those responsible for the crimes and providing full support to the victims’ families. He further pledged to ensure that such painful incidents do not recur.
The heartbreaking image of Sabahiya standing beside the bodies of her slain children triggered a wave of public outrage. This was exacerbated by reports that the armed perpetrators, whose identities remain unverified, directed sectarian insults at the grieving mother, who hails from Syria’s predominantly Alawite coastal region.
The surge of violence in Syria’s coastal areas has sent shockwaves both domestically and internationally. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that hundreds of people have perished in what has been described as one of the deadliest episodes in recent years.
Sabahiya’s story stands as a tragic yet powerful testament to the suffering of Syrian civilians, who continue to endure indiscriminate violence affecting men, women, and children alike. Her experience underscores the urgent need to strengthen civil peace and reject sectarianism and violence across all Syrian regions.
