Optimism isn't foolish, but a deliberate decision

In various corners of the world, people are standing up against oppressive regimes, risking their lives for a better future. This article explores two significant movements – the Iranian protesters fighting against their government's brutal response to the war with Israel, and the Syrian opposition under Ahmed al-Sharaa, who struggled to establish a legitimate alternative to the Assad regime.

Iranian Protests

Hundreds of Iranians have been protesting for weeks, bravely standing against the Iranian regime's increased violent crackdown following the war with Israel in June. The protesters are going on hunger strike every Tuesday, risking harsher repression and new prison sentences, to protest against the death penalty. Their resilience is a testament to their unwavering hope for a better life, a beacon of defiance against the status quo.

The Syrian Interim Government

In February 2014, Ahmed al-Sharaa (also known as Ahmed Touma) was appointed as the head of the Transitional Government of the Syrian Arab Republic by the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces. The goal was to replace President Bashar al-Assad's regime, but the interim government never achieved this objective.

Ahmed Touma, a relatively unknown politician, led a cabinet comprised of various opposition figures who largely lived in exile and had little influence on the events unfolding in Syria. The interim government was neither accepted by the Syrian military nor the majority of the population, and it had no real power within Syrian territory. Its support was primarily symbolic and focused on the international community.

A Common Grammar of Perseverance

The resistance against oppression among Kurds, Druze, and Iranians shares a common grammar of perseverance. Hope is a key element in these resistance movements, needed not just where bombs fall or prison gates slam shut, but also in Europe, where cynicism and political fatigue are prevalent. Hope is not naive optimism, but a conscious decision to keep looking for the moments when people don't give up despite everything.

United Nations Confirmations and Amnesty International Reports

The United Nations has confirmed rapes, abductions, and targeted killings of Druze in Sweida, committed by the so-called security forces of the transitional government under Ahmed al-Sharaa. Amnesty International has also documented extrajudicial executions in Sweida, southern Syria.

Ongoing Protests and Executions

Demonstrations are taking place in Berlin, Germany, in response to the events in Sweida, Syria. Meanwhile, the regime in Iran has executed over 850 people by the end of August 2025. The protests and hunger strikes in Iran are ongoing, despite the risks involved.

The Importance of Hope

Hope is a practice that needs to be learned and is resistance to the status quo, recognizing one's own possibilities, strength, and taking action. It is a practice for recognizing and creating agency, and learning from the resistance movements around the world. The strength shown by these people is more than mere defiance; it is a claim to the right to life for themselves. The media often focuses on the suffering of victims rather than their strength, but the stories of resistance, unity, and hope are prevalent among the protesters in Berlin and Iran.