Martyrs' Day is observed in Lebanon every May 6 to commemorate the execution of 21 Arab nationalists in Beirut and Damascus in 1916, ordered by Jamal Pasha, who suppressed the Arab nationalist movement. This day serves as a remembrance of those who fought for Arab autonomy during the Ottoman Empire's rule over the region, which lasted from 1516 to 1918. The executions were a significant event that contributed to the Arab revolt. While Martyrs' Day was once a public holiday in Syria, it has since been canceled following the fall of the Ba'athist regime. The day is marked by various remembrance activities, highlighting the historical struggle for national identity and autonomy in Lebanon.