Damascus streets erupt in celebration as Syrians mark finish of Assad dynasty

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Damascus streets erupt in celebration as Syrians mark finish of Assad dynasty

Tens of hundreds of Syrians have taken to the streets throughout Syria to have fun their newfound freedoms 5 days after rebels toppled the 54-year lengthy Bashar al-Assad regime.

Within the Umayyad mosque within the coronary heart of the previous metropolis of Damascus, one of many holiest spiritual websites within the Islamic world, hundreds of individuals gathered for the primary Friday prayers since Assad fled the nation on Sunday, which has been named the nation’s “freedom day.”

In a brief speech, the insurgent chief Abu Mohammed al-Jolani – utilizing his delivery title Ahmed al-Sharaa and sporting a double-breasted vest rather than his normal army fatigues – informed Syrians that they need to take to the streets to have fun. It was the group that al-Jolani heads – Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – that led the 12-day insurgent offensive that brought about the downfall of the Assad regime.

The inexperienced of the Syrian opposition flag was in every single place, draped round shoulders and painted on youngsters’s faces, as individuals sang the well-known songs of revolutionary musician Abdel Baset al-Sarout, in addition to chants of revenge. Store homeowners have been portray over the previous, two-star regime flag that adorned retailer fronts within the historic market of the previous metropolis.

Crowds cheered when members of the Syrian civil defence, often called the White Helmets, entered the Umayyad mosque territory for the primary time since their founding in 2014. The group operated in opposition-held territory, rescuing victims of airstrikes whereas typically coming below fireplace from regime and Russian warplanes.

Individuals have fun after Friday prayers in Damascus {Photograph}: David Lombeida

For many years, the federal government checked to verify imams across the nation included prayers for Assad of their sermons. This week, the message from the sheikh, Ratab bil Nabulsi, was very completely different.

“We should be united in our struggle for human rights and serving to one another make Syria a lightweight amongst nations once more,” he stated, voice cracking with emotion.

“Don’t overlook the price of freedom is to construct a homeland with justice, the place individuals can breathe freedom.”

Within the viewers, males, ladies and youngsters piled in and spilled out into the courtyard. A number of individuals cried as he spoke.

“It was 14 years of hell and this week is the very best of that entire time,” stated Hanan Hadi, 55, referring to the regime’s crackdown on peaceable Arab spring protests and the bloody civil warfare that adopted.

The Assad regime rapidly turned to violence to place down the peaceable protests that erupted in 2011, and severely punished dissent. Rights teams estimated greater than 136,000 individuals have been put in authorities prisons and greater than 350,000 have been killed within the greater than a decade of civil warfare. Any type of public opposition in areas managed by the federal government was met with harsh punishment.

Lastly free to talk out, the temper within the alleys and coated markets of the previous metropolis after Friday prayers was celebratory as individuals danced, sang and performed drums. Inexperienced, crimson, white and black balloons adorned shopfronts.

Taseer Abdul Rahman, 29, stated: “We aren’t used to freedom. I don’t know what we’re going to do with it, it’s such a brand new feeling … However now that is our nation, not Assad’s.”

Individuals wave the opposition Syrian flag at Umayyad mosque in Damascus {Photograph}: David Lombeida

A newly introduced transitional authorities, led by Mohammed Bashir, who headed HTS’s civilian wing, had set about what it stated was an institution-building section in Syria. Civil servants have been left in place and fighters withdrew from cities. By Friday, households milled by way of the streets of Syria and storefronts have been again open; the sight of males with rifles was uncommon.

The worldwide group has cautiously welcomed the prospect of a brand new authorities in Syria. Turkey appointed an envoy to Damascus on Friday after closing down its embassy 12 years earlier. European officers have been additionally reportedly contemplating establishing contacts on a “working stage” with Syria’s new management, based on AFP.

HTS officers have been cautious of their statements even in direction of Israel, which since Sunday has launched a whole bunch of airstrikes on former regime weapons depots and army amenities that it didn’t wish to fall into insurgent palms.

Syrians have fun after Friday prayers {Photograph}: Hussein Malla/AP

Whereas celebrations of freedom broke out throughout the nation, many households continued the seek for their family members, 5 days after regime prisons have been damaged open. Stephen Sakalian, the pinnacle of the ICRC delegation to Syria, stated on Friday that the physique had reported 35,000 lacking individuals during the last 13 years – although different rights teams put that determine a lot increased.

Sakalian urged “all events throughout Syria to forestall the destruction of essential data”, as prisons have been searched, to assist confirm the destiny of lacking family members, which he stated may take “weeks, months and possibly years”.


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