Following the confirmed theft of six ancient statues from the National Museum of Damascus, Syrian author and humanitarian Siwar Al Assad is calling for renewed international attention to cultural protection efforts in Syria. The theft, reported by Reuters on November 11, highlights the ongoing vulnerability of the country’s archaeological heritage amid years of conflict and instability.

Al Assad, who leads the London-based Aramea Foundation, has long advocated for the preservation of Levantine cultural identity and the restoration of historical sites threatened by violence, looting, and neglect. The recent incident, which saw Roman-era statues removed from one of Syria’s most significant museums, underscores concerns he has raised for nearly a decade about the long-term risks facing the region’s cultural memory.

In public statements, Al Assad emphasized that cultural artifacts are more than historical objects—they are repositories of identity, continuity, and collective memory. The loss of such pieces, he noted, weakens the foundations needed for future reconciliation and national rebuilding. His foundation has collaborated with archivists, historians, and Syrian diaspora communities on efforts to document and preserve cultural material at risk of disappearance.

The theft comes at a time when international organizations have renewed discussions about safeguarding the antiquities of conflict regions. For Syria, whose heritage sites include Palmyra, the Umayyad Mosque of Damascus, and centuries of Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic architecture, the threat is both immediate and long-term. Years of war have left museums, libraries, and archaeological sites exposed to trafficking networks, opportunistic theft, and environmental deterioration.

Al-Assad’s call for action focuses on practical, cooperative measures rather than political demands. He urges cultural institutions, diaspora groups, and international partners to strengthen reporting networks, support local preservation efforts, and increase monitoring of antiquities markets that may receive stolen Syrian artifacts. His position echoes broader concerns raised by heritage experts who warn that cultural theft accelerates in periods of financial hardship and weak institutional oversight.

As part of his advocacy, Al-Assad continues to highlight the role of cultural memory in national recovery. His previous work, Palmyre pour toujours, documented the historical and symbolic importance of the ancient oasis city of Palmyra and urged global responsibility for protecting sites that hold meaning for millions. He argues that any future path toward stability in Syria must include efforts to restore and safeguard the cultural identity that once anchored its diverse communities.

The theft at the National Museum of Damascus adds urgency to a conversation in which Al-Assad has been a consistent and measured voice. As Syria’s population continues to rebuild in the aftermath of war, he stresses that safeguarding heritage is not an abstract priority but a foundation for the country’s moral and cultural recovery.

About the Author:
Siwar Al Assad is a multilingual Syrian author known for A Coeur Perdu, Guard Thy Heart, Le Temps d’une Saison, and Palmyre Pour Toujours. He is the founder of the Aramea Foundation and serves as the director of Arab News Network. His fiction and nonfiction work explores themes of identity, memory, exile, and emotional recovery.

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