One household thought they’d left Syria eternally. After Assad’s fall, they plan to return

When Syrian insurgent forces took management of Damascus, Rehab Alkadi might hardly consider it. By no means in her wildest desires did she think about the collapse of Syria’s authoritarian regime in her lifetime. It is why she fled her homeland over a decade in the past.

However on Saturday night time, Alkadi mentioned her telephone was flooded with messages from mates again in Syria, all with the identical astonishing phrases: “We are free now.” In that second, Alkadi lastly began to consider it.

“I felt like in dream and I told them if I’m in dream, don’t wake me up,” she mentioned.

Many Syrians, each at dwelling and overseas, have been overcome by shock and jubilation on the information that President Bashar al-Assad fled the nation — bringing an finish to greater than 50 years of brutal rule by him and his household.

In interviews with NPR, some Syrians within the U.S. mentioned they lastly felt snug to speak to the press or share their full names as a result of they now not feared their households again dwelling would face punishment in the event that they spoke out.

A lot is but to be seen with how the Islamist rebels now largely in charge of the nation will govern. The group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led the offensive that toppled Assad’s authorities, was beforehand linked to al-Qaida however has in recent times publicly disavowed worldwide terrorism and tried to current a extra reasonable face. Leaders now face a myriad of challenges in attempting to carry the nation collectively.

Nonetheless, refugees within the U.S. advised NPR that for the primary time in years, they felt hopeful and seemed ahead to the opportunity of returning to Syria, whereas others expressed extra cautious optimism as the way forward for Syria continues to take form.

“We thought that’s the end of the story, but actually it wasn’t”

Rehab Alkadi and her husband, Feras, fled Syria in 2013 with their 1-year-old son. That they had watched close by properties lowered to rubble and spent numerous nights sheltering of their basement because of a bloody civil battle that broke out in 2011.

After they bid farewell to their family members, they thought it was eternally. “I didn’t dream to go back ever because of the suffering that we’ve seen,” Feras mentioned. “We thought that’s the end of the story, but actually it wasn’t.”

In the present day, Rehab and Feras have constructed a brand new life within the U.S. and are actually dwelling in New York Metropolis. Rehab works as a case supervisor with the nonprofit Syrian Group Community, whereas Feras, who was a doctor in Syria, is now pursuing a residency program to proceed his medical profession. The couple mentioned they now not see themselves as refugees they usually really feel comfy calling Syria their dwelling once more.

“We felt like we don’t have dignity anymore when we left our country,” Rehab mentioned. “When I had my citizenship here [in the U.S.], I felt I have my dignity back now. And with Syria now I have my dignity totally now.”

Rehab and Feras mentioned they’re anxiously ready for all of the prisoners who had been detained throughout Assad’s repressive rule to be freed, together with in Syria’s infamous jail Saydnaya, identified for its hidden cells.

For years, their son — who left Syria as a child — would ask if they’d ever return to their homeland, to which Rehab would reply, “never.” However now, Rehab reassures her son it should occur and tells him about all of the issues to stay up for. “It’s not easy to forget,” she mentioned. “The people, our friends there, our life there.”

“All the martyrs and people who died … I wish they can come back alive, just to tell them we are free now”

In Chicago, Samira Alhamwi instantly referred to as her mother and father who nonetheless reside in Syria when information broke out of Assad’s departure.

“I called them on the first day and they were jumping of happiness,” she mentioned.

Alhamwi left Syria in 2011 after it turned more and more troublesome to search out drugs and meals for her child. On the time, Alhamwi mentioned her father was additionally arbitrarily arrested as a part of a crackdown by the regime towards the neighborhood the place the Syrian revolution started. Alhamwi fled the nation earlier than her father’s launch.

For the primary time in years, Alhamwi feels a renewed sense of hope for her nation. She feels assured the Syrian individuals can rebuild efficiently. However she additionally carries a deep grief for individuals who misplaced their lives through the civil battle or whereas attempting to flee Syria.

“I wish they can come back alive, just to tell them we are free now,” she mentioned.

“Syrian people are tired. They don’t want more killed people. They don’t want war”

In Albany, Syrian refugees with the nonprofit New York for Syrian Refugees advised NPR they’ve been praying for peace and stability of their homeland over the previous few days.

They’re assured within the resilience of the Syrian individuals, however they’re additionally involved about forces exterior of Syria.

Following Assad’s departure, Israeli forces have been making actions in Syria, coming into a demilitarized buffer zone in addition to launching lots of of airstrikes in an try to destroy Syria’s army capabilities. In the meantime, some combating persists in northern Syria between U.S.-backed Kurdish forces and a insurgent group backed by Turkey.

“Syrian people are tired. They don’t want more killed people. They don’t want war. They want peace,” mentioned Lubna al-Sharifi, who left Syria in 2013 to guard her new child son and now lives in Albany.

Most of her household fled Syria to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, however Sharifi has lately begun speaking to them about reuniting in Syria as soon as the nation is steady and the airport reopens.

For Thouraya Ibrahim, she mentioned she was initially comfortable that Assad was gone however she continues to be ready for indicators of stability in Syria. Thouraya left in 2013 after an airstrike hit her home. All of her household, together with her mother and father and siblings, nonetheless reside in Aleppo. A part of her nonetheless needs that they’d transfer to the U.S., particularly given that there’s nonetheless combating occurring in northern Syria.

Mohammed Al-Shaneif, who fled Syria in 2012 when he was 11 years previous, mentioned: “Syrian people love to live in peace and love, but the world hasn’t been letting them.”

He mentioned he nonetheless vividly remembers the meals and the scent of jasmine flowers in Damascus. Since shifting to the U.S., he has tried to develop them himself, however they didn’t reside lengthy. He appears to be like ahead to the prospect to see them again dwelling.