“The Road Still Misses You”: Public Commemoration of Basel Shehadeh

On Wednesday, 28 May, Madaniya hosted an event at its Damascus headquarters titled “The Road Still Misses You”, marking the first public commemoration of Basel Shehadeh and his companions Imad Qassab, Ahmad Al-Asam, and Mohannad Arabi Al-Najjar in the capital following the fall of the Assad regime. The event, organised by their close friends, was the first of its kind to take place openly after years of fear and prohibition imposed by the regime’s presence.

This gathering represented the first fully-fledged activity held to honour Basel and his companions — a deeply symbolic and emotional moment that coincided with the reopening of civic space in Damascus. The event included a screening of one of Basel’s films, footage documenting the moments of his martyrdom and funeral in Homs, and heartfelt reflections shared by friends who recounted his life, values, and their personal memories with him.

The event also featured a visit to his gravesite in Bab Sharqi, where for the first time a headstone bearing his name was placed in the presence of his family, friends, and loved ones. This moment served not only as a symbolic tribute, but also as a first step in reclaiming collective memory and publicly acknowledging one of the cultural and civic figures who embodied the spirit and narrative of the Syrian revolution.