When “Zarqa” Shouted “Fishert” in Defiance: A Syrian Mother’s Cry Shakes Social Media
The heart-wrenching story of Zarqa, an 86-year-old Syrian mother, has reverberated across social media platforms. After losing her two sons and grandson in a brutal sectarian attack on the Syrian coast following the fall of the Assad regime, her defiant cry of “fishert”—a colloquial term expressing defiance and rejection—has turned her into a symbol of resilience for all Syrians, transcending sects and religions.
A Mother’s Unbearable Loss Amid Sectarian Violence
On March 7th, the Syrian coast witnessed one of its bloodiest incidents since the regime’s collapse. Zarqa, also known as Umm Ayman, stood guard over the bodies of her loved ones for four agonizing days. According to eyewitnesses, she refused to leave their side outside her home in the village of Qabu al-Awamiya in the Qardaha region of Latakia’s countryside. Meanwhile, a video capturing her confrontation with sectarian individuals who hurled accusations of betrayal against the Alawite community went viral. In response to their claim that her family were “traitors,” she retorted fiercely, “Fishert, we didn’t betray anyone.”
A Brutal Attack and a Family’s Plea for Justice
Zarqa’s daughter recounted to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights how a security group, including masked and unmasked men in military uniforms, stormed their home. Despite the family’s pleas that the young men were civilians—two of whom were university students studying English—the attackers showed no mercy. They executed the three young men and even denied the family the right to bury them immediately. For four days, Zarqa endured threats, mockery, and the looming fear that the bodies might be desecrated, all while her grief-stricken family demanded justice and accountability for the perpetrators.
Official Response and Promises of Accountability
In response to the tragedy, Latakia’s governor, Muhammad Othman, accompanied by Hasan Soufan, a member of the High Committee for Civil Peace, visited Zarqa to offer condolences. They assured her of the government’s commitment to bringing the culprits to justice and providing full support to the victims’ families. Additionally, they pledged to prevent such heartbreaking incidents from recurring, aiming to restore trust in a region scarred by division.
Social Media Rallies Behind “The Oak of the Coast”
Across social media, Syrians united in solidarity with Zarqa, dubbing her “The Oak of the Coast” for her unwavering strength. A powerful image of her raising her finger while declaring “fishert” became a symbol of resistance and a rallying cry for justice. For many, her story embodies the collective pain of a nation yearning for healing and unity amidst chaos.
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