Damascus, Dec. 11 (SANA) The Ministry of Culture honored researcher Tamer Turkmani in recognition of his individual efforts spanning over a decade in collecting and documenting a comprehensive archive of the Syrian Revolution. The archive captures the events, sacrifices, and struggles of the revolution, and the ceremony took place at the National Library in Damascus, attended by a gathering of intellectuals, media professionals, researchers, and interested individuals.
A Living Witness to a Pivotal Era
During a panel discussion led by media personality Hammam Habib, Turkmani shared the journey of building the archive, which began as a personal initiative in 2014 before evolving into a national project of great significance. The archive includes 3.5 million files, comprising 2.4 million video clips, 160,000 photographs, 650,000 articles and media reports, as well as a substantial collection of books, journals, documents, pamphlets, and thousands of files related to areas targeted throughout the revolution’s years.
Turkmani emphasized that his main objective was to “preserve the truth from being lost” and document the violations and crimes committed by the deposed regime against the Syrian people. He presented the archive as the collective memory of the people and a reference for researchers and national institutions.
A Commitment to Independent Work
Turkmani elaborated on the technical difficulties encountered in data preservation, as well as the immense security and psychological pressures he faced. Despite these challenges, he worked independently with minimal funding, relying on small donations to maintain the independence of the work. He also revealed that he had turned down financial and political offers to acquire the archive, as he did not want it to be exploited or used for purposes outside the national interest.
Future Justice Efforts
The archive can play a central role in transitional justice efforts by providing documented evidence of the violations against Syrians, according to Turkmani. He expressed his full readiness to collaborate with state institutions and relevant authorities in this regard.
Restoring National Identity
During the ceremony, Minister of Culture Mohamed Yassin al-Saleh emphasized the importance of reclaiming the national identity after years of marginalization, noting that “honoring Turkmani is an honor for all those who preserved the voice and memory of the people.” He called for uniting efforts to build a new phase founded on citizenship, belonging, and justice.
A Tribute to Journalists and Archivists Who Preserved Syria’s History
In a statement to SANA, Turkmani expressed that “this honor from the Ministry of Culture represents recognition for all those who gave their lives to document the Syrian truth.” He conveyed his gratitude for the initiative, viewing it as an important step toward restoring the right to document freely and honoring the media struggles that have faced extraordinary conditions.
A National Effort to Safeguard Collective Memory
In a similar statement, the Director of the National Library, Said Hajjazi, emphasized that the archive compiled by Turkmani is “an essential part of the Syrian national archive.” He pointed out that, as an academic and cultural institution responsible for preserving collective memory, the National Library attaches great importance to this stage of Syria’s history.
Hajjazi added, “Documenting this period is crucial to protecting the people’s memory, preventing the repetition of past mistakes, and meeting the need for researchers and academics to conduct precise scientific studies on one of the most significant periods in the country’s history.”
From Personal Initiative to National Legacy
The Ministry of Culture continues to implement projects to document both tangible and intangible Syrian heritage. This recognition of Turkmani is part of a broader national effort to preserve the memories and history of the Syrian people, enhance documentation initiatives, and contribute to the service of knowledge, justice, and national identity.
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