People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. CREDIT: AP PHOTO ALBERTO PEZZALI
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“I feel a profound sense of relief, as if a heavy weight has been lifted after years of pain and struggle,” Mirna Alswaidani tells City News.
The 32-year-old Syrian, who lives in Wembley, says the fall of president Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria is a moment she’s “hoped for, dreamed about and even doubted would ever come.”
After more than 50 years in power, the Assad family lost control of Syria in less than two weeks after rebels rapidly captured key cities before declaring the capital Damascus “liberated” early on Sunday morning.
Trafalgar Square gathering ‘uplifting and full of hope’
Mirna Alswaidani with fellow Syrians in Trafalgar Square. She says it “felt like the first step towards rebuilding, not just our country, but our collective spirit as a people.” CREDIT: MIRNA ALSWAIDANI.
As reports emerged that Assad had fled to Russia, Syrian diaspora gathered in Trafalgar Square to celebrate the end of his reign.
“The atmosphere was incredibly uplifting and full of hope,” says Ms. Alswaidani, who made the “heartbreaking” decision to leave Syria 12 years ago when escalating conflict made life too dangerous in her hometown of Mhajjah.
“For us who have been away for so long, it was a bittersweet reminder of how much we’ve lost, but also how resilient we are.”
Obaida Fahed, who left Syria fearing arrest 12 years ago and now runs a company selling sustainable backpacks with his wife Georgia, was among those celebrating.
He says it was a “great moment for all Syrians” to celebrate the end of “a very dark era in our history,” but that behind the happiness was the “pain of the suffering that the Syrian people have endured.”
“Liberty” for Syrian people after years of “living like servants”
Adel Hammour, owner of Palmyra’s Kitchen in Finsbury Park, hosted an impromptu gathering of Syrians at his restaurant to celebrate Assad’s defeat. CREDIT: ADEL HAMMOUR.
Adel Hammour, owner of Palmyra’s Kitchen, a Syrian restaurant in Finsbury Park, is surprised that government forces capitulated so quickly.
He says friends in Damascus are keeping him up-to-date on what’s happening via video calls and messages, including from the scene of Saydnaya prison, where people are reported to be trapped in hidden underground cells.
The 37-year-old organised an impromptu gathering at his restaurant on Sunday night for Syrians of different religious sects to celebrate the fall of Assad together.
He feels a sense of “real liberty” and immense relief for his relatives and friends in Damascus, who he says have been “living like servants” under the threat of repression, arbitrary arrest and torture by Syrian authorities.
Syrians in London hope to return to a changed Syria
Obaida Fahed and his wife Georgia met in Lebanon when she was making a film about Syrian refugees. They now live together in Wapping and run a business selling sustainable backpacks. CREDIT: OBAIDA FAHED
After losing hope that he would ever see regime change in Syria, Wapping resident Mr. Fahed says he will “absolutely” return to see family and friends, although he’s unsure when it will be possible, warning of “turbulent days ahead.”
Ms. Alswaidani also wants to return to her country of birth. She’s been working in London as an interior designer for almost five years. Whilst she feels she can rebuild her life here, she finds it difficult being far from home.
She dreams of “a Syria where everyone can live in safety and prosperity, regardless of their background or beliefs” and hopes to contribute to rebuilding the country.
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Headline‘A heavy weight has been lifted’: Syrians in London react to regime change
Short HeadlineLondon's Syrians react to fall of Assad
StandfirstAfter 50 years of Assad family rule, many Syrian diaspora feel immense relief as rebel forces "liberate" Damascus.
“I feel a profound sense of relief, as if a heavy weight has been lifted after years of pain and struggle,” Mirna Alswaidani tells City News.
The 32-year-old Syrian, who lives in Wembley, says the fall of president Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria is a moment she’s “hoped for, dreamed about and even doubted would ever come.”
After more than 50 years in power, the Assad family lost control of Syria in less than two weeks after rebels rapidly captured key cities before declaring the capital Damascus “liberated” early on Sunday morning.
Trafalgar Square gathering ‘uplifting and full of hope’
Mirna Alswaidani with fellow Syrians in Trafalgar Square. She says it “felt like the first step towards rebuilding, not just our country, but our collective spirit as a people.” CREDIT: MIRNA ALSWAIDANI.
As reports emerged that Assad had fled to Russia, Syrian diaspora gathered in Trafalgar Square to celebrate the end of his reign.
“The atmosphere was incredibly uplifting and full of hope,” says Ms. Alswaidani, who made the “heartbreaking” decision to leave Syria 12 years ago when escalating conflict made life too dangerous in her hometown of Mhajjah.
“For us who have been away for so long, it was a bittersweet reminder of how much we’ve lost, but also how resilient we are.”
Obaida Fahed, who left Syria fearing arrest 12 years ago and now runs a company selling sustainable backpacks with his wife Georgia, was among those celebrating.
He says it was a “great moment for all Syrians” to celebrate the end of “a very dark era in our history,” but that behind the happiness was the “pain of the suffering that the Syrian people have endured.”
“Liberty” for Syrian people after years of “living like servants”
Adel Hammour, owner of Palmyra’s Kitchen in Finsbury Park, hosted an impromptu gathering of Syrians at his restaurant to celebrate Assad’s defeat. CREDIT: ADEL HAMMOUR.
Adel Hammour, owner of Palmyra’s Kitchen, a Syrian restaurant in Finsbury Park, is surprised that government forces capitulated so quickly.
He says friends in Damascus are keeping him up-to-date on what’s happening via video calls and messages, including from the scene of Saydnaya prison, where people are reported to be trapped in hidden underground cells.
The 37-year-old organised an impromptu gathering at his restaurant on Sunday night for Syrians of different religious sects to celebrate the fall of Assad together.
He feels a sense of “real liberty” and immense relief for his relatives and friends in Damascus, who he says have been “living like servants” under the threat of repression, arbitrary arrest and torture by Syrian authorities.
Syrians in London hope to return to a changed Syria
Obaida Fahed and his wife Georgia met in Lebanon when she was making a film about Syrian refugees. They now live together in Wapping and run a business selling sustainable backpacks. CREDIT: OBAIDA FAHED
After losing hope that he would ever see regime change in Syria, Wapping resident Mr. Fahed says he will “absolutely” return to see family and friends, although he’s unsure when it will be possible, warning of “turbulent days ahead.”
Ms. Alswaidani also wants to return to her country of birth. She’s been working in London as an interior designer for almost five years. Whilst she feels she can rebuild her life here, she finds it difficult being far from home.
She dreams of “a Syria where everyone can live in safety and prosperity, regardless of their background or beliefs” and hopes to contribute to rebuilding the country.
