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Celebration and reflection on Syria’s first Friday without Assad

Celebration and reflection on Syria’s first Friday without Assad

Celebrations were held across the country on Friday for the fall of the Assad regime (Salwa Amor/TNA)

In a historic moment for the people of Syriathe country marked the first Friday without the Assad regime rule.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of the Syrian Islamist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), urged Syrians to take to the streets to celebrate what he described as a key moment in the ongoing fight against the Assad regime.

HTS emphasized the importance of peaceful demonstrations, urging participants to refrain from firing weapons into the air and prioritize the safety and security of their communities. The call came amid continued turmoil and shifting beliefs in Syria and the Middle East.

Following the Friday prayers in Damascusthousands gathered in the historic Umayyad Square, united in jubilation to celebrate a Syria freed from the grip of Bashar al-Assad.

For 13 long years of conflict, Syrians have endured the brutality of a regime that has stepped up its crackdown on dissent with an iron fist and killed hundreds of thousands of people. Assad’s departure last Sunday became a beacon of hope for many, sparking celebrations across the nation.

As crowds filled Damascus, joyful chants rang out in the streets: “Syria is free! The people want Bashar executed!”

The atmosphere was electric, charged with a mixture of exhilaration and an acknowledgment of the uncertain future ahead. Many in the crowd expressed dreams of freedom and justice, while others expressed fears for the future.

The Assad dynasty, which has ruled Syria for more than 50 years, has left behind a legacy stained by violence and persecution.

The outbreak of revolution in 2011 was met with ruthless repression as the regime unleashed artillery and indiscriminate airstrikes on its own citizens in a desperate bid to hold on to power.

HTS’s recent offensive, which saw the capture of Syria’s major cities and culminated in the fall of Assad, has unleashed a wave of optimism.

However, amid the jubilation, there are chilling reminders of the past. The release of the political prisoners exposed the nightmarish conditions in Syria’s prison system, revealing the extent of the regime’s brutality.

Some people gathered in the square told harrowing discoveries made in facilities such as Saydnayawhere countless individuals disappeared and countless others were subjected to unspeakable horrors. The plight of the missing weighs heavily on the minds of many celebrating today.

One protester, Mohammad, an 18-year-old medical student from Deraa, said TNA: “The celebration isn’t complete until we find everyone missing in Assad’s prisons. We never imagined Assad was capable of such evil until we saw the prisons.”

Lama, a 24-year-old medical graduate from Deraa, shared her harrowing experiences of living under the Assad regime. “I lived my whole life under Assad. Our parents suffered a lot; we knew nothing but his rule,” she said. TNA.

Having experienced airstrikes since the age of ten, Lama recalls the fear that haunted his childhood, a chilling reminder of the violence that gripped his homeland. “In 2014, we had to leave Deraa during the revolution.”

“When we heard that the rebels entered Aleppo, we didn’t believe it. We thought it would end there, but it spread to Damascus.”

Despite the turmoil, Lama expresses hope for a more peaceful future.

“I fear we could become like Libya or Iraq, but we are not a violent people. We want peace”, she says. While she acknowledges the anxiety among Syria’s various religious groups, including Alawites, Shiites and Christians, she urges them to abandon their fears. “No need to worry; we can build a nation that represents us all.”

The call for justice was taken up by Abdullah Alhafi, a 42-year-old coordinator for a local NGO.

“I was forced to leave Ghouta by the regime in 2018. When I left, I thought I would never come back,” he explained to TNA. However, on his return to Damascus on a momentous day – the same day Assad fled the country – Abdullah felt he was waking up from a long nightmare. “In 2011, it was a dream just to say the word ‘freedom.’ Now, however, all our dreams have come true; we feel reborn,” he declares.

Despite his traumatic experiences, Abdullah has a vision for The future of Syria. “We are not afraid of a Muslim government; we are revolutionaries. Syrians are peaceful people who do not want more bloodshed,” he says, stressing the importance of nation-building for all Syrians, regardless of their background.

Mona Rasoul, who is from Aleppo but now he lives in Damascus, he said TNA. “From the moment the rebels entered Aleppo, I felt that this is it. This is the moment when we will be free,” she said. “I can’t stop crying for all those we lost in the revolution. Assad was a great evil; anyone who defends him is a criminal.”

Mona asked unit and collaboration between all factions and sects in Syria.

“We are all one,” she insisted, emphasizing her willingness to contribute, whether by cleaning the streets or participating in the reconstruction of her nation. “What we have achieved is amazing. There is no more fear,” she added.

In the wake of Syria’s long and brutal conflict, concerns within the Alawi community remain palpable, according to political analyst Samer Dahy. Talking to TNADahy, who is Alawi, noted that while Alawites struggle with uncertainty about the future, the absence of large-scale reprisals so far has provided a degree of reassurance.

“The Assad regime has divided the people and now, for the first time, we have an opportunity to promote unity,” Dahy noted, reflecting a growing sentiment among many Syrians.

He expressed a cautiously optimistic view of the future, but lamented the prolonged suffering the population endured due to the government’s refusal to address even the most basic rights.

“We could have reached this point much sooner if Assad had listened to the people. Instead, it chose to attack its own citizens, resulting in thousands of deaths. Even those who once supported him are now expressing shock at the horrific events in Saydnaya without knowing it. of the scale of his brutality,” Dahy said, suggesting that Assad has alienated a significant portion of his former base.

The analyst further explained that the sudden departure of Assad it was a turning point for many Alawis, breaking the perceived bond of loyalty. “They felt abandoned by him,” Dahy said, hinting at a growing concern within the sect.

However, he remains hopeful for an inclusive future for Syria. “Now, we are at a crossroads. Syria has a real opportunity to rebuild itself and emerge as a unified nation deserving of a brighter future. I endured tremendous suffering; it is time to aspire to a future that includes all the people of Syria”