Elizabeth Blade
It took Syrian
rebels – led by the notorious Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, designated as a terror
organization by many countries across the globe – several weeks to take over
Syria, ending the 24-year-long rule of Bashar Assad.
Hayat Tahrir Al
Sham has been known for years for its fundamentalist Islamic ideas and the
atrocities it has committed. In 2018, the State Department even added it to its
list of terror organizations, promising a bounty of $10 million to whoever
helps to capture the group’s head. Now, as the West mulls the option of
removing HTS from that list, minorities are concerned about what’s to come.
As soon as the
news of Damascus’ fall came early Sunday morning, thousands took to the streets
of the Syrian capital – and other cities across Syria – to celebrate what they
called “the fall of the brutal regime.”
But for many
others the collapse of Bashar Assad’s government was a sign of concern, and RT
managed to get hold of three Syrians – each from a different location – to
gauge their perspective on the fall of the previous order and what the future
might now hold for them and the region. These are their accounts.
For security
reasons their real names will not be disclosed.
Maria, resident
of Damascus, belongs to the once ruling Alawite minority:
I was asleep and
was awakened by the chaos that emanated from the street. I heard people
running, driving, walking, talking, and panicking. People were afraid of
getting executed. I was in complete shock. My initial urge was to pack my bags
and leave but then I realized it was way too late.
I didn’t even
have time to analyze my feelings. I didn’t understand whether I was sad, upset,
or whether I felt betrayed [by the President, who reportedly fled to Russia –
ed.]. All I was thinking about was my family and how to save them. So my first
decision was that we needed to change our whereabouts in Damascus. Our next
step was that we left Syria for Lebanon, which is where my family is now.
Over there, they
are safe, away from these criminals. But I could not stay in Lebanon. I went
back to Damascus shortly after because I needed to help my people – you cannot
imagine the fear many of them had in their eyes, that feeling that you might be
executed.
Now the
situation in Damascus seems to be calm. However, many executions without fair
trials have already taken place in such areas as Homs and Hama, and we fear
what is yet to come.
I am an Alawite,
and for our minority – as well as others – it will be tough to live in Syria
now that the rebels have taken over. I am afraid of the chaos that might soon
come. Of course it is too early to tell what’s going to happen next, and much
will depend on international agreements and the will of the Syrian people. But
we do expect the continuation of conflicts, simply because these rebels are
divided and that will only add to the instability. And this is why I have
thoughts of immigrating and leaving this mess behind.
Nancy, whose
family is still in Latakia, belongs to a mixed family of Christians, Sunnis and
Alawites:
When Aleppo fell
in early December, I sensed that the unpredictable could now arrive. Then Hama
fell, and the world was introduced through a CNN interview to Abu Mohammed Al
Jolani, who brought back his original name of Ahmed Al Sharaa, in an American
attempt to rebrand him and prepare the world for the new “moderate” leader of
Syria.
When I watched
that interview, I knew that the fall of Damascus was imminent, it was just a
question of when.
On that Sunday
morning I was at home, in Europe – far from the turmoil of Syria, and when the
news came I could not but feel sad, lost, lonely, and betrayed by the fact that
Assad shamefully fled the country without a word to all those who believed in
the Syrian state and its secularity, not to mention the millions who gave their
blood and sacrificed their children to keep it intact.
Syrian
minorities and secular people believed in the system, in the president, in the
army. They were not religious but that was their doctrine, and all of that has
suddenly vanished like the fall of some god, it was big. It wasn’t about Assad
any more. All of a sudden it was about questioning the essentials, the past and
the future, what to do now, where to go and who to believe.
The West was
celebrating the fall of Assad, claiming rebels liberated Syria from a political
dictator but the truth was that they only replaced him with a religious one. Is
Syria better now than it was before? Through my daily contacts with family,
relatives and friends, I know that the situation on the ground is far from
being stable. Rebels and their affiliates are burning courts and documents.
They set immigration and passport centers and police stations ablaze, and they
open prisons and let dangerous criminals, including ISIS terrorists, roam
freely.
There are a few
attempts at facilitating and improving people’s lives but they are merely
promises for the time being. Syria is still experiencing a lack of electricity
and fuel exactly like before, little fresh produce is available in shops, and
theft is everywhere, though the new rulers did warn thieves that they would be
prosecuted if they don’t stop their activity.
And there are
more red flags: rebels burnt the tomb of Bashar’s father, killed a few Alawites
near Hama, and entered Christian areas and started asking women why they were
not covering their hair. This is only the beginning.
For the time
being, those “fighters” are trying to calm the external world that is watching
“the liberation” of Syria. For now, they are not using violence but this is
only to gain recognition by the international community. It will not continue
for long.
I am afraid that
the future of Syria will go down the path of Balkanization. Another option is
that we will see in Syria what we have been witnessing in Libya and Afghanistan
with only one difference, that the militants of ISIS in Syria are much more fanatic
and better equipped than the mujahideen of Afghanistan.
I also expect a
big wave of immigration from Syria when orders and visas are allowed, I
envision revenge and battles between these extremist factions when Al Jolani
tries to dismantle HTS, and what’s worse – I do believe there will be a
division of Syria.
In fact, the
split has already started. One day prior to the invasion, President Erdogan of
Turkey said that “we are in a big geopolitical shift, borders will change and
Turkey needs to be ready to move.” The next step for them would be to create a
buffer zone. The Kurds – with the backing of Trump – will want to take a slice
for themselves too. The south will be taken by Israel – a process that has
already kicked off so the division is unavoidable.
For many this
scenario is problematic to say the least and this is why people will want to
leave as soon as the situation allows.
Osama, resident
of Qamishli, belongs to the Kurdish minority:
I will never
forget that moment I heard the news of Bashar Assad’s rule coming to an end. At
that time, I was preparing to attend a workshop with a UN agency in Amman.
But things
started to escalate quickly, and the rule of Assad was collapsing. I
immediately canceled my travel plans to Jordan. It took only three more days to
witness Assad’s downfall by the morning of December 8, which I now consider
Syria’s national day.
Back then, I
felt a profound sense of hope, believing that the nightmare was finally over. I
thought peace was on its way, bringing a new era for the Syrian people. I
genuinely felt that it was only a matter of time before I could visit Damascus
again.
At the same
time, I felt a mix of emotions, as a Syrian Kurd who experienced oppression
under the Syrian government before. On the one hand, there was relief that the
regime had fallen; on the other hand, my concern was growing. Radical militias
began fighting against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Manbij and Kobane,
and a wave of hatred against the Kurds and the SDF started to spread, fueled by
certain individuals on social media.
It’s
disheartening that people don’t recognize the pivotal role of the Syrian Kurds,
who were the first to rise against Assad back in 2004. I want to share this
message: it’s time to rebuild Syria together. Kurds are an integral part of the
Syrian community, and after all the tragedies we’ve endured, it’s deeply unfair
to oppress us further. We can live together in harmony in Syria. Additionally,
I believe it’s time for the international community to acknowledge the Kurds
for their sacrifices, especially in saving the world from ISIS. Now is the time
to show loyalty and recognition to this ethnic group before it’s too late.
My biggest fear
is that we might enter another nightmare of conflict. Specifically, I worry
about fighting breaking out between the SDF and HTS, or a possible Turkish
attack on the region. However, I believe there’s still a chance to resolve
issues with HTS and include the Kurds in a transitional government. Cooperation
and dialogue are crucial to avoiding further tragedy.
I know there are
talks about a possible split of Syria but I don’t agree with these scenarios. I
believe there’s a better path forward, one involving a deal between the SDF and
HTS. The international coalition and Arab countries can play a critical role in
facilitating such an agreement. This path would pave the way for unity and
progress, rather than fragmentation or chaos.
I have never
wanted to leave Syria, and I still don’t. Like many other Syrians who chose to
stay, I’ve endured significant difficulties but remained committed to my
homeland. I’ve already made the decision to stay here, and I hope I won’t
regret it.
Juan Cole
( RFE/ RL ) – Iranian police
released singer Parastoo Ahmadi in the early hours of December 15 following a
brief detention after she performed without the mandatory head scarf, her
lawyer has confirmed.
Ahmadi caused a stir on social media
earlier this week after recording a performance with her hair uncovered and
wearing a dress. The performance, recorded with a crew of male musicians, was
uploaded to YouTube.
The police on December 14 claimed
she was released after a “briefing session” but a source close to the family
told RFE/RL’s Radio Farda that she remained in custody. Her lawyer Milad
Panahipur also denied the police claim, writing on X that the authorities were
“lying” about her release.
The following day, Panahipur
confirmed Ahmadi, who had been detained in her home province of Mazandaran, was
released at 3 in the morning.
Two of her bandmates, Soheil
Faqih-Nasri and Ehsan Beyraqdar, were also detained briefly.
Ahmadi’s Instagram account is no
longer accessible, but her YouTube account remains active.
The video of her performance, dubbed
“an imaginary concert” because female performers cannot sing solo in front of
an audience, has received around 1.6 million views on YouTube since it was
uploaded on December 11.
On December 12, the authorities said
legal proceedings had been launched against Ahmadi and her bandmates for the
“illegal concert.”
Ahmadi, who gained prominence during
the 2022 nationwide protests after singing a song in support of demonstrators,
has been widely praised for her performance.
On social media, many have hailed
her for fighting “gender apartheid” and showing “bravery, resilience, and
love.”
A rising number of women have been
flouting the mandatory hijab in public since the 2022 protests, which gave rise
to the Women, Life, Freedom movement.
The authorities have tried to crack
down and recently passed a law enhancing the enforcement of the hijab by
introducing hefty fines, restricting access to basic services, and lengthy
prison sentences.
The new hijab and chastity law,
which has been widely criticized by even conservative figures, is scheduled to
go into effect this month, but at least two lawmakers have said its
implementation has been postponed by the Supreme National Security Council.
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