‘I belong in my own country’: Syrians celebrate a year after al-Assad

Al Jazeera speaks to Syrians arsenic they observe 1 twelvemonth since the autumn of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.

Damascus, Syria – Syrians person marked the archetypal day of the fall of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad with fireworks and jubilant celebrations successful large cities, amid renewed optimism for long-lasting state and information aft 14 years of war.

Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa told ample crowds successful Damascus connected Monday that the state had turned the leafage from a “dark chapter” successful its past and present “looks towards a promising future”.

Recommended Stories

• list 1 of 3Syria’s Prison of Secrets: The Search for Sednaya’s Missing
• list 2 of 3Memories of liberation and anticipation for the future: A Damascene’s story
• list 3 of 3With flags and fireworks, Syrians observe 1 twelvemonth since autumn of al-Assad

Over the past year, al-Sharaa’s authorities has taken steps to supply basal services to citizens, arsenic millions of refugees measurement the determination to instrumentality home.

Al-Sharaa promised to bring justness to the families of the victims of the al-Assad authorities and physique an inclusive Syria, amid ongoing efforts to bring each equipped forces nether Damascus’s authority. His authorities besides managed to reshape overseas ties and get the lifting of planetary sanctions.

Despite bouts of sectarian violence, recurring Israeli attacks and heavy economical challenges, Syrians stay mostly assured that the extremity of the al-Assad family’s decades-long tyrannical regularisation has ushered successful a caller epoch of stability.

Al Jazeera spoke to Syrians celebrating successful nationalist squares connected Monday astir what they expect from the caller authorities and their hopes for the future.

Lina al-Masri

Lina al-Masri says the information of Syrian younker is what matters the astir to her [Screengrab/Al Jazeera]

Today genuinely feels similar a celebration. Syria is free. We are surviving successful safety. This is simply a happiness we haven’t seen among Syrians successful ages.

We afloat enactment [al-Sharaa’s] administration, wholeheartedly and sincerely. For now, the authorities has done everything well. Most importantly, it has provided america with security. It has ensured that our younker tin spell retired safely, and that’s the top accomplishment truthful far.

We were worried, sitting successful fearfulness for our young men and boys, anxious that they mightiness beryllium taken and not return, oregon die. But now, the streets are filled with our younker walking safely. Our men locomotion freely and safely without immoderate fear.

Khaled Jaboush

Khaled Jaboush says helium is ‘delighted’ with the caller authorities led by Ahmed al-Sharaa [Screengrab/Al Jazeera]

Injustice and oppression person been lifted disconnected the shoulders of Syrian citizens. Now they tin explicit their feelings, their liberty, and their beliefs.

You spot the crowds retired present – they came retired of their ain escaped will. In the past, radical utilized to march retired of obligation. Today, the radical came retired willingly, joyful and blessed with their [newfound] freedom.

We are delighted with the omniscient enactment we have. We are blessed with the improvement and advancement which, God willing, volition prevail successful our country. Today, God willing, the system has begun to grow, and the instrumentality is starting to turn.

It’s an indescribable feeling. After decades of injustice and oppression, we got our state back. The state we were denied for 50 years.

Yehya and Hussein

University students Yehya and Hussein accidental they nary longer consciousness frightened to walk by service officers [Screengrab/Al Jazeera]

Everyone is chanting, everyone is together, each successful harmony. I consciousness the information forces and the service are present portion of us. You walk by, and they greet you without hesitation. You don’t consciousness scared, similar someone’s retired to get you.

We utilized to imagination of charging our phones. Now we person electricity, we person lights, we person comfort.

I’ve lived overseas my full beingness due to the fact that of al-Assad’s oppressive regime. When I came backmost here, I felt similar I’m surviving successful my state for the archetypal time.

There were times erstwhile I visited Syria, but I felt similar an outsider. Now, nary – present I consciousness similar I beryllium successful my ain country.

I anticipation contiguous continues to beryllium a lasting awesome of bid for america and for our full country.

Rima al-Omari

Rima al-Omari says Syrians person recovered caller beingness aft the autumn of al-Assad [Screengrab/Al Jazeera]

Everything is evolving. There are immoderate bully initiatives and beauteous partnerships with different countries. So hopefully, our state volition flourish.

Work opportunities successful ministries person go easier; they attraction astir the state and the people’s circumstances.

Services are improving measurement by step. Of course, everything starts small, but we’re lacking nothing. Everything is available, convey God.

The Syrian radical person improved, too. They’ve go warmer, much passionate, and recovered thing to rebuild this state on. They’ve got a beingness now.