The Decay

Not everything that is corrupt is visible at first glance. Some things reveal themselves through a foul odor before the discerning eye can perceive them. Many homes appear intact from the outside: their walls stand tall, doors are wide open, and windows gleam; yet, upon entering, one feels an unmistakable heaviness, a strange presence in the air that makes breathing difficult and signals a hidden rot. Gradually, the hidden cause of the decay begins to surface.

Today, the question is no longer about what this authority has promoted and celebrated but rather what has been explicitly revealed. The discussion has shifted from eloquent rhetoric to the corrupt essence that produced it. The issue was never merely an isolated mistake here or an individual transgression there, nor an incident affecting Syria and Syrians that could be attributed to misjudgment, confusion, or inexperience. No, the problem runs much deeper. When a phenomenon recurs, it transforms from a mere incident into a consistent pattern. And when that pattern repeats, it solidifies into an entrenched structure. Once this structure appears, the true nature, with all its deceit, begins to unveil its stark reality.

Thus, it is no longer feasible to view the successive events as isolated islands. The tactics of intimidation, systematic exclusion, ongoing incitement, continuous demonization, and treating the state as personal spoils of war were never separate entities. They all flowed into a single river, pointing in one direction, emerging from a single stagnant source. As time passed, this source became increasingly evident and unsettling. Instead of a space of reassurance expanding within people’s hearts, the space of anxiety and fear grew. Instead of divisions receding and wounds healing, they resurfaced under new names and ugly faces. Instead of Syrians feeling they were entering a broader national space that encompassed everyone, many began to feel that the public sphere was closing in around them, suffocating their breaths. All this unfolded while the official language continued to echo hollow slogans, speaking of something entirely different.

“Public trust erodes when repeated actions contradict the promise of an inclusive national space.”

Dr. Yahya Alaridi 

Thus, here precisely is where the decay began to manifest. Not as a ready-made accusation, but as an overarching sensation invading the collective consciousness that something is fundamentally amiss. The gap widened between the false image and the bitter reality. Words could no longer conceal what the eyes could see clearly. People are not governed by words alone; their lives are not built on shiny images, nor do they find stability in grandiose slogans, but rather in how they are treated and the extent to which they feel safe and confident in those who govern them.

With each new crisis, each resounding fall, or scandalous slip, an additional part of this corrupt authority’s nature surfaced. It seemed that what had been hidden behind masks could no longer remain concealed. The nature of metal, despite delays, always seeks its way to emerge. What is forcefully hidden often returns in moments of true testing. What is covered by sweet talk is revealed through harsh practical experience. Thus, the question is no longer: What does the authority of the Joulani say about itself? What do its trumpeters and cheerleaders narrate in its court? The real question is: What do its actions say about it?

“The character of governance is ultimately judged by what it does, not by what it claims.”

Dr. Yahya Alaridi 

Here, the broader pattern becomes increasingly difficult to ignore. The issue is no longer simply whether a particular narrative has lost credibility, but whether repeated events point to deeper structural problems that deserve careful examination. The question is no longer whether appearances have changed, but what underlying realities those appearances may reveal. As facts accumulate, they invite closer scrutiny and a more objective assessment of governance, accountability, and the exercise of authority. History has often shown that the true character of any system is most clearly revealed when power is exercised without sufficient institutional restraint or public accountability.