Leipzig, 08.12.2024
Thousands of Syrians flooded the streets of Leipzig to celebrate the fall of Bashar Al-Assad. Assad family had rule the country with an iron fist for 53 years.
Store owners were giving sweets to passers-by and demonstrators. The flag of the Syrian Revolution, which is the new flag of the country, could be seen everywhere.
"No fear, we are not afraid anymore. I don't know this feeling, I have it for the first time in my life..."
In this festive environment, people were laughing, hugging as they were celebrating. For some the celebration was there to remind them the atrocities committed by Al-Assad family. Many people we simply vanished and still, until now nobody knows their whereabouts. Many lost relatives and friends during the 2011 uprising as a 54-years old Syrian man explained. His son was killed by the Bashar Al-Assad regime, while his father was abducted, when he was at his teens, only 15 year old. After 39 years, there is no word from his father and is unknown whether he's dead or alive.
For others the fall of regime has a completely different meaning, especially for the young people who faced the harsh conditions of immigration during their childhood or early teen years, walking endless kilometres from their war-torn country in order to reach the shores of Greece and Turkey. They have to discover how to live without fear. "I can talk to my family on video now after ten years of fear of surveillance." says Abed*, a 27 years old Syrian man, while Abdurahman* says "I don't know my feelings are really mixed. I don't know how to explain it. I'm happy, sad, I don't know, I don't know. But is very nice, very nice. No fear, we are not afraid anymore. I don't know this feeling, I have it for the first time in my life..."
*Names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved.