Days our community came together

Memorial gathering for the victims in Suwayda

After the attack on Suwayda in July 2025, the association invited the community in the Netherlands and its friends to a memorial gathering. More than 650 people came, and the hall was full.

• Saturday 16 August 2025
• A church hall in the Netherlands
• More than 650 peoplefrom the community and beyond
• About 1 hour 45 minuteslength of the programme

As people came in, the screens showed the photographs and names of those who were killed, one by one. The programme opened with a minute of silence, followed by a message to our people in Suwayda, a religious address and the association's address. After that came speeches by members of the community and guests, and poems, in Arabic and Dutch.

Speakers said we had gathered "to console ourselves before we console our families". From the stage, the association repeated the demands of our people there: an end to the blockade and humanitarian corridors, international protection, and an urgent international investigation into the crimes committed against the people of the region. The speeches were translated into Dutch on the screens, because the message was meant for our community and for Dutch society alike.

The work did not end with the programme: teams and committees of young people from the community continue to carry our people's voice, to support humanitarian aid and to document violations.

Our martyrs are not numbers; our martyrs are pages of lasting honour.

Summary of the gathering 16 August 2025 · 3:58

Summary in order: arrival, speeches, key moments, close.

Spoken language: Arabic, with some speeches in Dutch. The video subtitles are in Arabic.

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Programme

Times refer to the full version, to jump straight to a part.

1. 0:00
   Opening of the programme

   And a minute of silence for the victims.

2. 4:58
   Message to our people in Suwayda
3. 5:30
   Religious address
4. 9:42
   The association's address

   And the demands of our people there.

5. 13:40
   Message and poem

   The whole hall stood during the chants.

6. 21:23
   Speeches in Arabic and Dutch
7. 26:23
   Message of peace

   "We love life … whatever is destroyed, we will build again."

8. 28:03
   Speeches and poems

   In Arabic, Dutch and English.

9. 1:08:30
   Close

   Thanks to everyone present; then all stood to receive condolences.

Out of respect for the privacy of those present, the summary uses wide shots of the hall and the stage, avoids close-ups of attendees, and blurs faces turned towards the camera.