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The Graffiti That Sparked a Revolution: A Retrospective on Syria's Uprising

In the early days of February 2011, a simple act of defiance changed the course of history in Syria. A group of schoolboys in Deraa, a southern city, spray-painted a powerful message on a wall: “It's your turn, doctor.” This graffiti, directed at Bashar Al Assad—who had dabbled as an ophthalmologist before ascending to power—signified the frustrations simmering in the hearts of many Syrians. At the time, much of the Arab world was witnessing a wave of revolutions, igniting hope for many disenchanted citizens living under authoritarian rule.