On the 76th anniversary of the evacuation... This is what Syrian President Shukri al-Quwatli said on the day the French left his country

Today, April 17, marks the sixty-seventh anniversary of the declaration of Syria's independence, the date of the evacuation of the last French soldier from Syrian territory, after more than a quarter of a century of occupation with the French armies entering Syrian territory, during which the Syrian people fought many armed revolutions starting with the revolution of Sheikh Saleh Al-Ali, moving from the revolution of the leader Ibrahim Hanano, to the Great Syrian Revolution led by Sultan Pasha al-Atrash and many other revolutions, and then the struggle for independence moved to the stage of the political struggle.

At that time, the Syrian President, Shukri al-Quwatli, was seeking to achieve the independence of his country and the evacuation of the French from it, but France was keen to keep its armies in Syria and make it a colony for France, so the latter took a dangerous escalation and blatant aggression, and deployed its armies in preparation for a comprehensive confrontation with the Syrian people, and launched A devastating war that claimed the lives of a large number of children, the elderly and women, and in which all methods of brutality were used.

Despite Al-Quwatli’s illness, he did not care about his illness, and set out to inflame the enthusiasm of his people, urging them to steadfastness and resistance against colonialism, while he was on the bed of the disease, until the Syrian people were able to force the French to flee after inflicting a humiliating defeat on them, which surprised Britain, and amazed it to win The Syrian people are against its ally, so the British army with its huge armored vehicles marched on Syria, and Syria became fighting alone with the two most powerful colonial powers.

Syria turned to the Security Council to demand the withdrawal of the British and French armies from its lands, and it did not hesitate in its request until the foreign armies were evacuated from Syria on (15 Jumada al-Awwal 1365 AH = 17 April 1946 AD), and this day, the day of evacuation, became a national holiday for Syria. 

On April 17, 1946, the first Feast of Evacuation was held in Syria with wide Arab participation, and Shukri al-Quwatli raised his country's flag above the sky of Damascus, saying that no flag would be raised above this flag except the flag of Arab unity.

On this occasion, Al-Quwatli delivered a speech described as “historic”, in which he said:

"My countrymen...

This is a day when the shining sun of freedom will shine on your homeland, in which only your knowledge will fail, and only your banner will rise in it.

This is the day of truth in which his word resounds, and the day of independence manifests his dignity, a day when falsehood will see how its state will turn, and how its tour will wither away.

This is the day of great victory and manifest conquest.

Today I congratulate this nation, young and old, crescent and cross.

I congratulate that farmer, the father of the homeland called him, and he answered him, he deserted his farm and left his gun, and he began to defend his nation and avenge his dignity.

I congratulate the hardworking worker, who makes himself a redemption for his country, and he is among those who are happy with what happens to him.

I congratulate that student, his spirit is raging with enthusiasm, and his cauldron is boiling with pride. 

I congratulate the professor who inspires national pride, the poet shakes the patriotic spirit, and the writer defends the truth and strengthens his resolve.

I congratulate that merchant for as long as he left his shop in protest of blatant injustice, and in reprisal for a descending aggression.

I congratulate the living man who is raised by pride and responds to diet.

I congratulate the lady who performs her duty with effort, steadfastness and patience.”

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