As Syria continues to reel from over a decade of war, displacement, and cultural erasure, author and humanitarian Siwar Al Assad is quietly scaling up his efforts to safeguard the country’s endangered heritage. Through the Aramea Foundation, an independent organization he has chaired since 2016, Al Assad is pushing forward a renewed mission: preserving Syria’s cultural identity amidst conflict, destruction, and diaspora.

The Aramea Foundation, based in London, has launched multiple initiatives aimed at documenting Levantine historical landmarks, digitizing endangered archives, and supporting displaced Syrian scholars and artists. In a region where many of the world’s oldest cities, Palmyra, Aleppo, and Damascus, have faced cultural vandalism and neglect, the Foundation’s mission is as urgent as it is personal.

“Our history is not rubble,” Al Assad has said in past interviews. “Even when cities fall, stories survive. It’s our responsibility to protect those stories, not just for Syria, but for the world.”

Born in Damascus in 1975, Al-Assad left Syria as a child but remained deeply connected to its intellectual and cultural legacy. His passion for history is woven into both his advocacy work and his literature. In Palmyre pour toujours, a lyrical nonfiction tribute to the ancient city of Palmyra, Al Assad captures both the splendor of its past and the tragedy of its desecration during the war. The book serves not only as a historical reflection but as a literary protest against cultural erasure.

Beyond books, the Aramea Foundation’s work has included collaborations with archaeologists, diaspora communities, and NGOs to map the destruction of historical sites and offer educational resources on Syria’s diverse cultural traditions.

Al Assad’s dual leadership at the Aramea Foundation and the Arab News Network positions him uniquely, balancing literary storytelling with grassroots-level cultural engagement. His recent public criticism of Syria’s sectarian governance, coupled with his continued humanitarian involvement, has made him a respected voice both within and beyond the Syrian diaspora.

As Syria’s future remains uncertain, Al-Assad’s efforts to preserve its past are becoming all the more critical. In an era of destruction, his foundation’s mission is simple but vital: to remember, restore, and rebuild, one story, one stone, one voice at a time.

About the Author:

Siwar Al Assad is a multilingual Syrian author known for A Coeur Perdu, Guard Thy Heart, Le Temps d’une Saison, and Palmyre Pour Toujours. He is the founder of the Aramea Foundation and serves as the director of Arab News Network. His fiction and nonfiction work explores themes of identity, memory, exile, and emotional recovery.

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Name: Siwar Al Assad
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