Born in 1948 in the town of Al-Darbasiyah in Syria’s Jazira region, Bahnan Yamin moved to Jounieh, Lebanon, where he completed his primary, middle, and high school education. He earned a degree in French literature from the University of Aleppo and subsequently taught French at various high schools, colleges, and institutes in Aleppo. In 1966, he joined the Arab Revolutionary Workers Party and became a leader of the Aleppo and Tabqa branches.
Growing up amid the significant social and political challenges that placed Syria at the forefront of confrontation following the 1948 Palestinian Nakba, Yamin never retreated from the fight for freedom and dignity since he grasped the meaning of citizenship and belonging to Syria’s rich civilization which is intertwined with the fabric of the Arab world. As a member of a resilient generation that was born into conflict, Yamin stood firm.
Upon reviewing the political and intellectual journey his life has taken, we found a steady and conscious political will that evolved into a wellspring of wisdom and truths about pivotal figures and events in Syria’s social, political, and economic history.
SYRIAWISE interviewed Bahnan Yamin from his current home in California, a haven he chose far from the political minefields that surrounded him in his homeland. Despite the geographical distance, Yamin has maintained his deep-rooted connection to Syrian civilization and continued to defend his community and comrades. With undying hope for a better Syria, Yamin has built a stronghold for Syrian civilization in the heart of America and transformed his political activities in a safer and more effective arena. He also continues to raise national awareness through an Arabic online Magazine he founded called Al Hadarah (Civilization).
SYRIAWISE: In your abundant and information-rich files, you mention the term “citizenship.” Don’t you think the concept of citizenship has undergone changes due to the need to adapt to the geopolitical and geostrategic shifts in the relations between nations?
Yamin: Citizenship is a multifaceted concept, beyond a mere emotional value or biological instinct. Let’s explore this concept through the following perspectives:
Political Perspective:
Not a mere instinct: Citizenship is not just a natural loyalty to a place; it is a social and political relationship that develops over time, influenced by various cultural, social, and political factors.
A social construct: Citizenship is an evolving social construct that involves mutual rights and duties between the individual and the state, defined by laws and social systems.
A deep-seated emotional value: Citizenship carries an emotional value reflected in belonging and identity, which goes beyond geographic location to include shared values and principles that connect individuals to each other and their state.
A tool for control and guidance: At times, the concept of citizenship is exploited as a tool for political control and guidance. National loyalty is often exaggerated to justify certain policies or undermine opposition.
Social Perspective:
Peaceful coexistence: Citizenship is the foundation of peaceful coexistence between individuals and groups in society. It provides a framework for cooperation and mutual understanding.
A shared identity: Citizenship helps build a common identity that unites individuals, regardless of their cultural or ethnic differences.
Rights and duties: Citizenship entails enjoying certain rights and fulfilling obligations towards society. These rights and duties contribute to building a just and cohesive community.
Continuous evolution: The concept of citizenship evolves continuously with changes in societies and political conditions.
In conclusion, “citizenship” is a dynamic concept that requires critical thinking and continuous questioning of its meaning and applications in different contexts. It has never lost its relevance since it was adopted by the French Revolution. During the Syrian crisis, the abducted Bishop Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim reaffirmed the importance of embracing it explicitly during his speech at an opposition conference held at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.
It is also worth noting that Yassin al-Hafiz, Elias Marzouq, and George Tarabishi also called for solidifying the concept of citizenship. I call them ‘the three greats.’ I will continue to use this slogan, which unites the Syrian community, both at home and in the diaspora. Everyone needs this culture, and the struggle will continue for generations to come.”
SYRIAWISE: In several articles, you mentioned quotes from Christian clergy and some political leaders known for their sincere patriotism. Who are the influential figures that shaped your political vision?
Yamin: No Christian clergyman contributed to shaping my personality in my early years. I was influenced by my father, who instilled in us a love for the teachings of Christ. When Pope Pius XII, who was conservative, passed away, he was succeeded by Pope John XXIII, who revolutionized the Church and introduced modernized teachings. His successor, Pope Paul VI, continued what Pope John XXIII had begun. I was influenced by both of them.
“As for my relationship with Father Paolo Dall’Oglio, an Italian Jesuit with a Syrian heart, whom I met here in Los Angeles, the Assad regime persecuted him simply because he loved Syria and supported the Syrian revolution”
Bahnan Yamin
In Syria and Lebanon, I was influenced by the wisdom of Bishop Grégoire Haddad and followed his case. He was an exceptional figure, persecuted by some bishops who later opened a petition against him to the Vatican, accusing him of heresy due to the magazine “Positions,” which he published with a group of enlightened priests.
As for my relationship with Father Paolo Dall’Oglio, an Italian Jesuit with a Syrian heart, whom I met here in Los Angeles, the Assad regime persecuted him simply because he loved Syria and supported the Syrian revolution. He gave a joint seminar in Los Angeles with a professor specializing in Syrian affairs, who had written books about Syria and also held a professorship at UCLA. Father Paolo wore a vest with a map of Syria on it with the words “Expelled and Upset.”
We continued our correspondence via the Internet, and when he moved to Raqqa, the regime expelled him by revoking his residency and asking the Jesuits to move him out of Syria. He left through the door but returned through a window. The last email we exchanged was when he asked me about the fate of the two bishops. I told him they had been hidden by the regime but he did not believe me and went to ask ISIS in the area that they had handed over to them. He left and never returned.
By the way, many national forces in Raqqa followed his case, such as Firas Al-Haj Saleh, lawyer Ahmed Khalil, and Dr. Ismail Al-Hamoud. When a delegation from the “Syrian Christians for Peace” organization met with the U.S. State Department about the fate of the prisoners who were with ISIS, the response was that they informed the SDF about some ISIS prisons. So, I believe the ball is now in the SDF’s court.
My relationship with the Ecumenical Bishop Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim is very old, dating back to when he was the bishop of the Aleppo Diocese. He was a friend of my father’s and used to visit me at the Al-Hadarah Bookshop. When I moved to Los Angeles, he kept in regular contact with me. I loved him for his charisma, which drew people to him. When the Syrian revolution started, he supported it from the very first day. He came to Los Angeles in August 2011, and during his reception, I was among those who welcomed him. He declared in front of a group of Assad loyalists, the corruption of this regime, and stated that the people must rise against it. However, he was kidnapped 11 years ago, and to this day, no one knows his fate. The kidnapping was carried out by the Chechen Brigade — that is, Russian intelligence.
“During my time in one of their detention centers, and while they were interrogating me, investigator Abdel Aziz Thalji offered to collaborate with me by supplying me with printed books worth fifty thousand Syrian pounds — at that time, the exchange rate was about 4 Syrian pounds per U.S. dollar — but I refused to become their informant”
Bahnan Yamin
As for my deep political influence and my affiliation with the Arab Revolutionary Workers Party, it was through my uncle, the activist Hanna Isaac, who was involved with the party from its inception until the mid-1980s. Also, the ideas of the “three greats” influenced my political formation. Organizationally, the late Fouad Harb and Walid Abdel-Aal were significant figures, and in Lebanon, Hisham Abdo and Mahmoud Al-Mays played influential roles.
SYRIAWISE: Could you mention the key activities that left their mark on your intellectual and literary output?
Yamin: Believing firmly that raising national awareness is a national necessity to protect society, I founded the Al-Hadarah Library in 1977, which lasted until 1987. On February 15, 1979, the State Security in Aleppo raided the library and began tightening the screws on me. During my time in one of their detention centers, and while they were interrogating me, investigator Abdel Aziz Thalji offered to collaborate with me by supplying me with printed books worth fifty thousand Syrian pounds — at that time, the exchange rate was about 4 Syrian pounds per U.S. dollar — but I refused to become their informant. As a result, they further restricted me and I was denied security approvals to hold book fairs, even though I was an agent for more than 22 Lebanese publishing houses. They crushed my dream of establishing a publishing house for children’s books.
“My main demand is the abolition of the Ba’ath Party’s monopoly, as it has exhausted both Iraq and Syria. Of course, when these authoritarian authorities are removed and Bashar Assad’s regime falls, the Syrian people will have the opportunity to build a state of citizenship”
Bahnan Yamin
I also had the honor of being a member of the Board of Directors of the Cinema Club in Aleppo, which was founded in the late 20th century. As I recall, the founding members of the Board of Directors were Georges Tarabichi, Henriette Aboudi, and Walid Ikhlasi. I left this activity when I was forced to emigrate to the United States.
SYRIAWISE: Based on past experiences and personal reflections, what do you believe is the solution to saving Syria?
Yamin: Saving Syria is not an easy task and will not be achieved without eliminating the dominance of the security apparatus. My main demand is the abolition of the Ba’ath Party’s monopoly, as it has exhausted both Iraq and Syria. Of course, when these authoritarian authorities are removed and Bashar Assad’s regime falls, the Syrian people will have the opportunity to build a state of citizenship where public freedoms, justice, and democracy are promoted.
