دستور نيوز
Enab Baladi – Alaa Shaabo
Wars do not end when the fighting stops. Sometimes another phase begins that is quieter, but longer-lasting and more complex, which is the phase of memory. Societies that have emerged from violence deal not only with material destruction, but with invisible layers of pain, fear, and unresolved questions, which remain present in the details of daily life for many years.
In Rwanda, the genocide was not closed in 1994, but it later turned into a remarkable experience in rebuilding the state and society, to the point that it was presented in international discussions as a model in the path of transitional justice, peacebuilding, and the reshaping of collective memory. This transformation was linked to broad institutional efforts to redefine the relationship between society and its past, through documentation, accountability, and rebuilding social trust.
In Syria, the debate on these questions is renewed with open files on detainees, missing persons, and violations, and the feelings of anger, sadness, and evocation of unresolved experiences in individual and collective memory.
In the context of a growing interest in benefiting from the Rwandan experience, a delegation from the National Authority for Transitional Justice in Syria visited the Rwandan capital, Kigali, in October 2025, to learn about the mechanisms of reconciliation, documentation, and building the national narrative.
The similarity between the Syrian and Rwandan experiences is not limited to the political context only, but extends to a deeper question: Do traumas truly end with the end of the war, or do they remain alive within society unless they are treated with justice, recognition, and the reconstruction of meaning?
Why do some files reopen wounds?
The psychological response to the content of violations varies from one person to another, depending on the nature and severity of the previous experience and the surrounding social environment, in addition to the individual ability to adapt.
Psychiatrist Muhammad Mona said in an interview with Enab Baladi that about 70 to 75% of people have the ability to gradually recover from trauma over time, so that symptoms remain within temporary limits, such as sadness, anxiety, or tension, and gradually ease with social support and stabilization of circumstances.
In contrast, about 20% of individuals may develop deeper psychological disorders, such as chronic anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder, especially when exposed to severe violence, an immediate threat to life, or the sudden loss of loved ones.
Mona added that video or audio material related to violations may act as a powerful stimulus that reactivates the traumatic experience, even for people who thought they had overcome its effects, because the brain does not deal with the event as a distant memory as much as it re-conjures it as a complete sensory experience.
Multiple factors interfere with this, including the nature of the original experience, the duration of exposure to violence, family and community support, in addition to individual psychological preparedness.
Responses such as sudden flashbacks, nightmares, or persistent anxiety may occur, along with feelings of guilt, anger, and a loss of security.
Mona warned that the persistence of symptoms for long periods without improvement requires specialist intervention, especially if this affects daily life, social relationships, or the ability to work and study.
From individual to collective memory
The effects of trauma do not stop at the individual, but rather extend, in many cases, to become part of the collective memory of society.
Sociologists explain, according to what was stated in the book “Cultural Trauma and Collective Identity” (Cultural Shock and Collective Identity), that collective trauma can turn into a foundational element of social identity, and continue to affect trust, relationships, and a sense of security for many years, especially when there is no justice or recognition of the suffering of the victims.
In the Syrian case, this is linked to the continued absence of answers about the fate of thousands of missing persons, and the cases of detention and violations remaining without resolution or full accountability.
This absence not only leaves a legal vacuum, but also creates a psychological and social vacuum that makes collective memory linked to open questions that cannot be closed.
What do the experiences of other countries say?
In countries emerging from extensive conflicts, the challenge was not limited to stopping the fighting, but rather extended to how to deal with the effects of long-term psychological and social trauma.
In Rwanda, after the 1994 genocide, during which about 800,000 people were killed in just 100 days, studies have shown that the effects of trauma persist for many years, not only among immediate survivors, but also among subsequent generations who grew up in an environment saturated with violence, loss, and open memory.
The response was not limited to the judicial path, but included community mechanisms such as the “Gachacha” courts, which provided a space for recounting testimonies and acknowledging what happened within local communities, in addition to community psychological support and social rehabilitation programs.
However, traces of collective memory are still present in levels of trust, social relations, and rebuilding the social fabric.
UNICEF’s speech during the commemoration of the genocide, on April 7, 2025, also indicated that the Rwandan experience is not reduced to the path of reconciliation only, but also in confronting the hate speech that preceded the violence, which was considered one of the main drivers of the collapse of society at that time. Hence the importance of preventing the reproduction of this speech emerged, as it is a basic condition for preventing the recurrence of the tragedy.
In South Africa, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission relied on publicly hearing the testimonies of victims in the post-apartheid era, in an attempt to combine revealing the truth and building a social recovery path based on recognition.
As for Bosnia and Herzegovina, international justice has intertwined with psychological and social support programs, but the effects of war and division remain present in many families who are still dealing with a lost memory that has not been completely closed.
These experiences indicate that trauma does not end with the end of the war, but rather requires paths of justice, recognition, psychological support, and rebuilding of trust, so that it does not turn into an open memory that reproduces itself within society.
Trauma does not only affect witnesses
The effects of violations are not limited to those who directly experience them, but extend to those who are exposed to them indirectly through the media, humanitarian work, or following the daily news.
Psychiatrist Mohamed Mona indicated that this type of impact is known as secondary trauma, as symptoms similar to the original trauma can appear without direct experience, as a result of continuous exposure to violent or traumatic content.
Psychological literature shows that constant repetition of violent scenes across digital platforms may affect individuals’ perceptions of safety and make the world appear more threatening than it actually is.
This may also lead to a feeling of psychological exhaustion, helplessness, or loss of confidence in those around them, especially for those who have previous experiences related to war, loss, or detention, according to Mona.
When does affect turn into a psychological problem?
Psychological responses vary between individuals, but there are indicators that require attention, most notably continued extreme sadness or loss of pleasure in life, sleep and appetite disturbances, difficulty concentrating, and a constant feeling of fear or anxiety.
In other cases, more severe symptoms may appear, such as frequent flashbacks, recurring nightmares, or gradual social isolation.
Psychiatrist Muhammad Mona confirmed that seeking help becomes necessary when symptoms begin to affect daily life, relationships, or work, or when thoughts related to self-harm appear.
How do we protect children and adolescents?
Children and adolescents are among the groups most affected by violent content on the Internet, due to their incomplete psychological tools for dealing with shocking images.
Psychiatrist Muhammad Mona pointed out that protection is not based on complete prevention, but rather on building a communication relationship that allows the child to express his feelings after exposure to shocking content, instead of repressing or ignoring them.
Mona also recommended avoiding intimidation or harsh responses, and providing an age-appropriate explanation that helps the child understand without losing a sense of security.
He said that a supportive family environment, regulating the use of screens, and encouraging social and sports activities can mitigate the impact of these scenes in the long term.
Memory not yet closed
Despite the different contexts between Syria and experiences such as Rwanda, Bosnia, and South Africa, what they have in common is that collective traumas do not automatically end with the cessation of violence, but rather continue to reshape individual and collective memory.
In the Syrian case, as the files of detainees, missing persons, and violations remain unresolved, collective memory remains linked to questions whose final answers have not yet been found, which makes the impact of trauma continue in the present as well as in the past.
Between justice and open memory, the basic question remains outstanding: How can we coexist with a past that has not yet been closed without turning into a permanent burden on society and the present?
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Memory of war: open wounds delaying the stability of Syria
– الدستور نيوز
عالم الأسرة – Memory of war: open wounds delaying the stability of Syria
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