A recent sports event aimed at raising awareness for disabled Syrians in the Idlib region has sparked significant controversy, leading to the suspension of the organizing aid group’s activities by local authorities. The event, organized by the Violet Organization under the slogan “We Have Wings,” coincided with the launch of the Paralympic Games in Paris and was intended to showcase the resilience and strength of people with disabilities in war-torn northern Syria.
Held on August 28 at the municipal stadium in Idlib, the event drew a large crowd of civilians, activists, and humanitarian workers. The opening ceremony featured a torch-lighting that mirrored the Paris Paralympics and was carried by notable figures from various sectors across northern Syria. The event aimed to celebrate the achievements of 333 participants with disabilities, highlighting their ability to overcome challenges.
However, the event quickly drew criticism from many in the region. These critics took issue with what they perceived as an inappropriate “imitation of the West” and the event’s alleged cultural insensitivity. Prominent among the critics was Saudi preacher Muslih Al-Aliani, who condemned the torch-lighting ceremony, labeling it as a promotion of “Greek mythology” and a “polytheistic culture” inappropriate for the region.
In response to the backlash, the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG), the administrative body in the region, issued a statement through its Director of Public Relations at the Ministry of Development and Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Tariq Al-Ali. He explained that while the Violet Organization had received approval for “a sports event,” the inclusion of what he described as a “celebratory festival” fell outside the approved scope and violated local customs and traditions.
“The Violet Organization submitted to us a project to hold ‘sports activities for people with disabilities,’ and it was approved as a sports event,” Al-Ali stated. “During the implementation of the project, it held a celebratory festival outside its specialization, which required special procedures and referral to the competent authority in the Department of Political Affairs, which caused many violations to occur in the aforementioned activity that violates our culture, customs, and traditions.”
As a result, the SSG summoned Violet Organization representatives, issued a warning, and suspended all of the organization’s activities in the region. Al-Ali emphasized that the ministry would take steps to regulate similar future events to ensure they align with local cultural norms.
The suspension has drawn widespread criticism from various quarters. Syrian writer and political analyst Motaz Naser, in a social media post, argued that the incident was being exploited to create unnecessary division and distract from more pressing issues. He warned against using religion as a tool to incite societal crises, stating, “Dressing every administrative or political error or negligence that occurs in the liberated areas in the guise of deliberate intent and hostility to religion is the very essence of the Kharijite ISIS.”
The Violet Organization, known for its humanitarian work in the region, now faces an uncertain future as it navigates the fallout from an event intended to inspire and uplift, but which has instead ignited a heated cultural, religious, and political debate.
