The oath-taking ceremony in Damascus this time was not merely a procedural formality accompanying the formation of a new government, but rather became a pivotal moment reflecting a transformation in the vision, symbolism, and expected role of the cultural elite in building post-Assad Syria.

In the People's Palace, before the new president Ahmed al-Sharaa , the young minister Mohammad Yassin Saleh took to the stage, not just as a holder of a ministerial portfolio, but as an intellectual coming from the realm of exile and the platform, carrying a cultural project that leans on language and identity. He aspires to establish a new discourse that reconnects what has been severed between the intellectual and the state, between authority and the people, and between culture and sovereignty.

In his first appearance as Minister of Culture, Saleh emerged as a voice reflecting the collective yearning for a different Syria – a state that listens to its poets and intellectuals, reinstates values, celebrates diversity rather than oppression, and embraces freedom instead of subservience.

From the moment he began his speech with verses from the Quran, passing through the poem that resonated with the spirit of victory, and reaching the spontaneous address, it seemed that Syria was on the brink of a new and different cultural scene.

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Saleh sounded like a different Syria that listens to its poets and thinkers, reinstates the values, and celebrates diversity and freedom, not dependency

From the very first moment he stood before the Syrian President Ahmad al- Sharaa to take the oath, Mohammad Yasin Saleh was not just a holder of a ministerial portfolio, but he appeared as an engaged intellectual in the issues of his nation, embodying a national project that breathes the language of literature and principles of freedom. He began his appearance with a recitation from the Quran, followed by a poem documenting victory, and then an impromptu speech that dismantled the legacy of the fallen regime. He built a comprehensive cultural discourse on its ruins, restoring the intellectual’s status as an active participant in public affairs, rather than merely a spectator in the theater of politics.

In a striking scene inside the People's Palace in Damascus, the new minister began his speech by reciting the Holy Verse:( That man can have nothing but what he strives for.(39) That (the fruit of) his striving will soon come in sight:(40) Then will he be rewarded with a reward complete;(41) That to thy Lord is the final Goal(42) ) (An-Najm) In a profound reference to individual responsibility, and that sincere efforts do not go to waste, and that serving the homeland is a moral duty from which no one is exempt.

He followed the recitation with the delivery of verses in which he said:

We have fasted from joys for a long time and broke our fast on a plate of dignity.
So, record, O time of victory, record Damascus for us until the Day of Judgment.

Then came his statement, in which he announced that Damascus belongs to all of us, with all its ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity, as an expression of the inclusiveness of the Syrian identity that the new Ministry of Culture aims to establish.

During his impromptu speech, Saleh spoke about the importance of breaking away from the cultural legacy imposed by Bashar al-Assad's regime, describing it as base and distorted. He called for a new culture based on justice, goodness, and fraternity, one that transcends empty slogans to focus on serious work to build a free individual who is engaged and capable of crafting their own civilization through consciousness, rather than through glorifying their leaders.

He referred to his personal experience in exile, where he worked as a journalist at Al Jazeera, conveying the suffering of Syrians to the world, and paying the price for his stance with exile and a ban on returning. He stated clearly: "I was honored to convey the suffering of Syrians after living as a hunted exile from Syria for my refusal to accept injustice and humiliation

In his statements to Arabic media, the new minister indicated that he was inspired by the leaders who made history, saying: "My strategy is drawn from those who captured the world's attention with their accomplishments, and then made it listen to them.

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The role of culture in building the state

This stance has been widely welcomed by activists and intellectuals, who consider his appointment a sign of real change in the perception of culture, viewing it as the conscience of the nation rather than just an official sector.

In a message addressed to the new Syrian Minister of Culture, Mohammed Khalaf Al-Thunyan, the founder and president of the Tarous Center for Studies, emphasized that the role of the Minister of Culture is as important as that of sovereign ministries. He cited what the Israeli Minister of Defense once said when he revealed his war plan to an Indian journalist, stating: "Arabs do not read, and if they do read, they do not understand, and if they understand, they do not apply.

Al-Thunayan added in a tweet posted on his account on the "X" platform that culture is the true power that shapes public opinion, creates awareness, and uplifts nations. He referenced the words of the Algerian thinker Malek Bennabi: "Any failure recorded by a society in one of its attempts is merely a true expression of the degree of its cultural crisis.

Al-Thunayan: Culture is not an intellectual luxury; it is the true power that shapes public opinion, creates awareness, and elevates nations.

He pointed out that what is known as "cultural security" can only be achieved through reinforcing the concept of culture in all aspects of life, asserting that any regression in this area, or a separation between culture and institutions or between culture and science, could hinder the progress of development and disrupt the wheel of advancement.

Al-Thunayan emphasized that culture is not an intellectual luxury, but rather the foundation that rectifies societal behavior, instills values, and solidifies them.

The principles upon which modern states are based, indicating that the absence of culture leads to barbarism and intellectual stagnation, resulting in stagnant societies that hinder the vitality of the state and its ability to rise.

He concluded by saying: I am optimistic about a cultural and intellectual renaissance in Syria, just as Damascus was once a beacon for the Islamic world in science, thought, and culture. If culture rises, Syria will rise, and it will once again export its culture to the world.

A biography full of belonging

Minister Saleh represents a new cultural face in the Syrian scene and sparked significant interest with his striking speech, which received a warm reaction from the audience, led by President al- Sharaa.

Saleh was born in 1985 and holds a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from London Metropolitan University and a master’s degree in Translation from the University of Westminster in the United Kingdom.

He is known for his passion for the Arabic language and his commitment to showcasing its beauty and richness. This passion was crowned by his winning first place in the "Fasih Al Arab" competition in Qatar in 2016.

One of the most prominent defenders of the Arabic language in the face of cultural invasion believed that language is not just a tool for communication, but also a bearer of identity and a catalyst for revival.

He performed good work at the Qatari channel "Al Jazeera," and distinguished himself by hosting several programs, such as "The Press Mirror," "The Observatory," and "Reflections"; a program that focuses on literature and the status of the Arabic language.

Upon receiving the cultural bag, Saleh promptly visited one of the symbols of the Arabic language in Syria, the scholar Dr. Mazen Al-Mubarak, a member of the Arabic Language Academy, at his home in Damascus, accompanied by a cultural delegation that included Dr. Ayman Al-Shawwa, a professor of Arabic language at the University of Damascus. During the visit, he emphasized that the new Syria values its men and scholars.

The visit carried a symbolic significance of restoring recognition to competence and knowledge, after decades of marginalizing true symbols in favor of political loyalty.

In addition to his cultural presence, Saleh was known for his support of the Palestinian cause. He composed several poems dedicated to advocating for Al-Aqsa Mosque and supporting Gaza and its resistance, reinforcing the idea that culture is inseparable from the struggle for freedom, and that each verse of poetry serves as a trench for defending the land and identity.

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