Daad Qanou: The solution is not revenge, but rather addressing the roots of the crisis

Daad Qanou, head of the Women’s Committee in Syria and a resident of Latakia, confirmed in an exclusive interview with ASO News Network that what is happening on the Syrian coast is the result of long-standing injustice and economic and social marginalization. She pointed out that the solution lies not in revenge, but rather in addressing the root causes of the crisis.

Qanou explained that the Syrian coast was among the first areas to surrender its weapons and accept settlement processes after years of war. However, its people were subjected to marginalization and exclusion, as they were prevented from establishing factories or development projects, which forced many of them to join the army or seek any means of emigration. She added that young men in these areas were forced to serve in the military for many years, some for more than ten years, which placed enormous pressure on their lives and futures.

She pointed out that living conditions have deteriorated in the region, as no real solutions have been provided for its people. Poverty and deprivation continue to plague them, especially in informal settlements like Al-Datour in Latakia, which are suffering from catastrophic humanitarian conditions similar to those seen in other areas such as Qaboun in Damascus.

Qanou added that the recent battles revealed clear international interventions, with the roles of Russia and Turkey becoming prominent from the first moments of the clashes. This reflects the regional dimension of the conflict, not just its internal nature. She emphasized that there are parties working to ignite discord among the Syrian people by spreading hate speech and sectarian incitement, noting that the media played a negative role in inaccurately exaggerating events.

She emphasized that the solution must be based on adherence to the law, preventing the proliferation of weapons outside state control, criminalizing incitement, and establishing popular oversight to prevent the recurrence of these crises. She also emphasized the importance of rebuilding Syria by focusing on economic development and employing citizens in reconstruction rather than engaging them in conflicts and divisions.

For her part, Zeina Mohammad, a resident of Latakia, told ASO Network that the situation has become catastrophic. Government forces began conducting raids in various neighborhoods yesterday, amid indiscriminate shelling that has claimed hundreds of lives. She added that university students are trapped in their dormitories, with no safe exit routes, prompting some to attempt to escape in order to save their lives.

She explained that coastal residents feel they have returned to the atmosphere of 2011, with areas subjected to fierce attacks, amid a lack of basic necessities and the difficulty of securing food during the month of Ramadan.

Qanou concluded by emphasizing that Syria needs a comprehensive political solution that guarantees the rights of all its citizens, free from violence and revenge, calling for international intervention to monitor the situation and prevent new massacres.