Syria: The Flag Debacle  · Global Voices
Rami Alhames

This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011/12.
The dispute over the Syrian flag started the moment revolution forces chose it as their rebellion symbol. It opened a debate between government supporters, who are now using the current Syrian Flag as their social media profiles, and those opposing the Syrian regime, who are flying the Syrian flag at its independence, at the end of the French mandate, which was first used in 1932.
On Dahnon blog, Khaled Mashriki weighs in:
Mashriki adds:
What do the flags symbolise?
The blog Damascus Tribune illustrates the history of the the Syrian flag:
علم الاستقلال
العلم الذي رُفع في سماء سورية في 17 نيسان من عام 1946 بعد جلاء الفرنسيين عن الوطن واستمر حتى الوحدة بين سورية ومصر. اعتمد شكل هذا العلم وألوانه في المادة السادسة من الفصل الأول للدستور الصادر عن الجمعية التأسيسيّة السورية في 5 أيلول عام 1950 كما ورد حرفياً في دستور عام 1930، ونُشر في الجريدة الرسمية العدد 45 تاريخ 7 أيلول 1950……جاء تصميم العلم السوري غنياً برموز لونية، وهي تماثل ألوان علم الثورة العربية الكبرى، فالأخضر للإسلام عموماً، والأبيض للأمويين، والأسود للعباسيين، والنجوم الحمر للعلياء والبطولة ودماء الشهداء.
Syrian flag raised after last French soldier has departed Syria on April 17, 1946. The Photo from Damascus Tribune blog (CC BY 2.0).
On the other hand, Dr Assad Abu Khalil, from the Angry Arab News Service blog, defended the use of the current flag in a post entitled Syrian flag and bigotry toward Alawites. He writes:
….should be reminded that the so-called “independence flag” was actually adopted in the 1930's, well before independence. Syrian state TV is actually more correct when it describes it as the “French occupation flag”, because that is what it really is. Also, the current flag of Syria is not the Baathist flag. It is the United Arab Republic flag. Just a fundamental history lesson.
Maysaloon says the independence flag refers to a new era that carries hope to Syrians by saying:
Everything about this flag, the background of the movement that made it a symbol for Syria, and the figures that fought for it to become so, is steeped in principles rooted in a hope for a better country that is free and good for all its people. Should the Syrian people decide one day to once again make this flag Syria's official flag, then it is not because the current flag is any less legitimate, but because the independence flag represents that hope. To describe it flippantly as a “colonial” flag is an insult.
The flag is now hoisted as the Syrian “Revolution Flag” and is displayed in many occasions around the world. It was present during the Egyptian Revolution at protests in Tahrir Square staged in support of Syrian protesters:
The Syrian flag of independence decorated Tahrir Square in Cairo. The photo from Syria Matters Blog. (CC BY 2.0)
Also Hamdyarabweb blog posted a photograph which shows the Turkish flag besides the Syrian independence flag. The comment reads:
Syrian independence Flag in Turkey. Photo from Hamdyarabweb blog. (CC BY 2.0)
And it hangs off Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
Syrian flag hangs off of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Photo from See Syria Blog. (CC BY 2.0)
This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011/12.