Males dance outdoors the Ummayad Mosque in Damascus, Syria, on Friday.
Claire Harbage/NPR
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Claire Harbage/NPR
DAMASCUS, Syria — Jubilant Syrians crowded the streets and mosques at Friday prayers at the moment to mark the downfall of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
On the Telegram messaging app, insurgent chief Abu Mohammed al-Golani inspired Syrians to go to the streets and categorical their pleasure.
“I call them to get down to express their happiness without shooting bullets and terrifying people, and after that let’s direct to build this country and as we said from the beginning, it’s victorious with help from God,” he mentioned in a video message.
Within the capital Damascus, folks stood shoulder to shoulder at certainly one of Syria’s most holy websites, the al-Umayyad Mosque.
Individuals pushed previous one another, jostling for house, all attempting to make their approach to the mosque’s courtyard and it was so packed, most did not make it inside. Kids ran round waving the brand new Syrian flag, the temper like a pageant.
Individuals collect within the Ummayad Mosque courtyard on Friday.
Claire Harbage/NPR
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Claire Harbage/NPR
This was the primary time Syrians carried out Friday prayers within the Umayyad Mosque since opposition forces stormed the capital and overthrew Assad lower than every week in the past.
The traditional mosque is adjoining to the tomb of the twelfth century Muslim hero Saladin, and a few imagine the pinnacle of John the Baptist is buried contained in the mosque.
Its marble courtyard can be the place Assad’s safety forces brutally clamped down on anti-government protests over time.
A soldier with a flower in his gun on the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus on Friday.
Claire Harbage/NPR
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The sound of the sermon was faint outdoors, however the message was clear: The imam requested God to punish the boastful and the unjust and to punish Assad and his cronies.
The congregation responded with calls of “God is Great.”
After the prayer, folks took selfies within the mosque with their households and hugged one another.
A toddler holds the brand new Syrian flag on the Umayyad Mosque on Friday.
Claire Harbage/NPR
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Claire Harbage/NPR
Some got here for the primary time. Like greatest mates, 21-year outdated Mareya Keftaro and 20-year outdated Bayan Habash.
Laughing, they spoke over one another.
“Our land has returned to us,” Habash says. “I feel like it’s MY country now.”
Mohamed Yaser thanked God for this newfound blessing and mentioned he is been ready for this second for all of his 70 years. A second when he felt protected sufficient to wish right here.
Individuals collect on Friday on the Umayyad Mosque on Friday.
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Claire Harbage/NPR
“The roads to the mosque were full of intelligence and security,” Yaser mentioned. “I never wanted to risk it.”
Khadija Hattab, 40, mentioned she thought-about this present day like a “national wedding.”
“The feeling we have today is indescribable,” she says. “I can’t put the happiness I feel into words.”
And what did Hattab pray for at the moment?
She lets out a deep sigh.
“That God will keep Syria a happy, safe and prosperous place,” she mentioned.
