In churches throughout Syria, Christians attended the first Sunday services since Bashar Assad’s regime unexpectedly fell, with emotions ranging from tears to devout prayer. “They are promising us that government will be formed soon and, God willing, things will become better because we got rid of the tyrant,” shared worshipper Jihad Raffoul.
“Today, our prayers are for a new page in Syria’s future,” expressed Suzan Barakat. Amidst this transformative period, the U.
N. envoy for Syria has urged for an immediate lifting of Western sanctions to aid the rebel alliance that deposed Assad and forced his exile to Russia just a week prior.
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The United States, the European Union, and other entities have imposed sanctions on Syria for years due to Assad’s harsh crackdown on initially peaceful anti-government protests in 2011, which escalated into a civil war, leaving the country economically crippled and internationally isolated. However, the path to rebuilding is fraught with difficulties; the transitional leaders have yet to present a clear governance plan, and the primary group responsible for the offensive is still listed as a terrorist organization by the US., which has nonetheless started direct communications with it.
Geir Pedersen, the U. N. envoy to Syria, emphasized in Damascus that the rebels’ rapid advance should be met with swift international action.
“We can hopefully see a quick end to the sanctions so that we can see really a rallying around building of Syria,” he said. I
At the Nahla Zaidan school in the Mezzah neighbourhood, teachers raised the three-starred revolutionary flag. “God willing, there will be more development, more security and more construction in this beloved country,” Maysoun Al-Ali, the school director, expressed her optimism.
Despite parts of Syria’s major cities being damaged or destroyed by years of conflict, sanctions have hindered rebuilding efforts in government-controlled areas without a political resolution. The U.
N. envoy is engaging with officials from the new interim government, formed by former opposition forces including the Islamic militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
There are indications from Washington that the Biden administration might reconsider HTS’s terror designation. This interim government is expected to govern until March, with Arab foreign ministers advocating for U.N. -supervised elections under a new constitution ratified by the Syrian people.
“We need to get the political process underway that is inclusive of all Syrians,” stated Pedersen. He also demanded ” justice and accountability for crimes” committed during the war, as some families continue their search for the tens of thousands of people imprisoned by Assad’s government.
An emergency meeting this weekend involving foreign ministers from the US, Arab League, Turkey, top officials from the European Union and United Nations agreed on the need for a new Syrian government that prevents terror groups from gaining power, secures and destroys any remaining chemical weapons from the Assad era, and respects the rights of minorities and women. Many Syrian Christians, who constituted 10% of the population before the civil war, either fled the country or supported Assad due to fear of Islamist insurgents.
Last Sunday’s church services were cancelled. “We were scared of the events taking place,” admitted Ibrahim Shahin, a Catholic church supervisor.
However, this Sunday saw doors reopening and bells ringing once more. “Now we see that for the minorities, on the contrary, they are showing us more respect, and they are taking care of us,” observed Agop Bardakijian, a Christian resident of Aleppo at a bustling cafe.
Children were seen posing for photos in front of Christmas trees. Residents had been warned of slaughter as the rebels closed in, but nothing of the sort has occurred, said another Aleppo resident named Raed, adding, “The revolution should have happened long ago.”
There were indications of unrest. A rebel force was dispatched to a village in southeastern Damascus to halt looters who had descended on a residential complex that housed former military personnel, setting some flats ablaze.
The rebels opened fire to disperse the crowd and apprehended around a dozen individuals. Looting in the capital has been minimal.