Daijiworld Media Network - Damascus
Damascus, Dec 7: Weeks ahead of December 8, the anniversary of Syria’s liberation, Damascus was already alive with celebrations. Around Umayyad Square, children waved the green, white, and black national flag as fireworks lit up the sky, signaling hope and renewal for many Syrians after a decade of conflict and exile.
Abu Taj, 24, returned to Syria after ten years abroad, having fled Aleppo when his home was destroyed during the civil war. “The culture of the country is now for the people,” he told Al Jazeera, expressing joy at the country’s new direction.
The fall of the al-Assad regime a year ago ended a brutal police state notorious for torture and disappearances, bringing relief to Syrians who had lived under oppression since 1970. While early optimism has been tempered by incidents of sectarian violence and unrest in regions like Suwayda and Homs, the nationwide celebrations reflect the significance of regime change for ordinary citizens.
Preparations were evident across Damascus. Flags were displayed everywhere, children had their faces painted in national colors, and vendors in Marjeh Square distributed flags to locals. Omran, 22, returned from Lebanon to reunite with his mother after nine years and said he looked forward to joining the anniversary celebrations with his family.
On Friday, thousands gathered in Umayyad Square, arriving in minivans and on scooters, passing the site of July’s Israeli strike on the Ministry of Defence. Abdelaziz al-Omari, 21, from the Yarmouk Palestinian camp, waved Syrian and Palestinian flags, saying, “We were oppressed, but now our sadness has been released.”
Celebrations continued late into the night with fireworks and car honking. Though thunderstorms are forecast for the weekend, the skies are expected to clear by Monday for the main anniversary events.
Rahma al-Taha, a Damascus lawyer, noted that security in the immediate aftermath of liberation was lacking, but over the past year, improvements have been noticeable. “Everything is better, and every month we’re seeing new things. There is hope,” she said, echoing the sentiment felt by many Syrians as they mark the first anniversary of Assad’s fall.