Syrians in London Reflect on Assad’s Downfall with Mixed Emotions

Following the swift collapse of President Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria due to a rapid rebel offensive, Syrians who have been displaced and are now residing in London are discussing the implications for their homeland and their prospects. Amr Shayah, a Syrian refugee based in Greenwich, south-east London, stated, “I feel like I’m in a dream and I don’t want to wake up.” He contacted me, speaking with a hoarse voice, having spent the preceding days commemorating the conclusion of Assad’s harsh regime alongside his family and friends. He recounted, “The last time I was there, I left twice because I was threatened to be killed or arrested and tortured to death.” The Assad family maintained authoritarian control for over five decades. However, the government has now been toppled by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allied rebel factions, resulting in Assad’s flight to Russia, where he received asylum. Subsequently, members of the Syrian diaspora convened in Trafalgar Square, engaging in sharing sweets, dancing, and singing in the streets. Mr. Shayah, 38, sought asylum as a refugee in 2022 and is currently employed in humanitarian and development initiatives. Prior to this, he was employed at an airport in Syria after completing his studies in aviation engineering. He also engaged in activism in addition to his primary employment. During that period, what began as a revolutionary movement across numerous Arab nations, referred to as the Arab Spring, escalated into a civil war in Syria, where Assad violently suppressed a peaceful pro-democracy movement. Mr. Shayah was apprehended on Christmas Day in 2011. After his release, he stated that he received an anonymous warning in 2012 indicating he would face re-arrest “by an intelligence branch” and that departing the city was advisable. He further mentioned that his friend received an identical call, prompting their departure. His friend’s family was arrested and killed that evening; however, Mr. Shayah’s family survived because they were not present at their residence. He initially moved to settle in Turkey, but after encountering racism, he stated his decision to relocate to the UK. He commented, “The main goal was to survive and to protect my family.” Regarding the conclusion of Assad’s regime, he described it as “something I never expected I would witness.” He also noted that contemplating it was “really stressful” given the country’s uncertain future, yet he considered it the initial stride towards a free Syria. He asserted that the former leader still required to be “held accountable.” He concluded the discussion by expressing his hope to eventually witness “a beautiful, joint, unified Syria, that has equity for every single person, regardless of their religion, background, colour.” Student Lujin Arnous conveyed that she was “absolutely overjoyed” by the collapse of the Assad family’s five-decade governance during the weekend. The 19-year-old from Rayners Lane, north-west London, remarked, “It didn’t feel real. It felt like a dream.” Subsequent to the city-wide celebrations, Ms. Arnous’ sense of relief regarding the situation began to diminish as she learned via phone about the current experiences of her family in Syria. She stated, “My younger cousins had headphones on because they were scared of the bombs that were shaking their house.” Israeli warplanes conducted dozens of strikes throughout the country on the night of 8 December, which they claim were intended to prevent weapons from falling “into the hands of extremists” after the Assad regime’s overthrow. Ms. Arnous commented, “You just never know what we are going to wake up to.” Regarding Syria’s future, she expressed her belief that it would “going to take sacrifice of people from outside Syria, who have the degrees and knowledge, to go back to Syria and rebuild it.” After appealing for assistance from Western nations, she further stated: “All we ask for is to elect our government and to live freely and equally unified in one land.” Ms. Arnous indicated that despite being “terrified of another dictatorship” emerging, she viewed this as a “moment of hope and potential for a better future for the country.” Abdulaziz Almashi, the founder of the Syria Solidarity Campaign who organized Sunday’s demonstration in Trafalgar Square following Assad’s downfall, declared, “We never wanted to be refugees. We love our country, we want to go back.” He added, “We feel relieved, we feel so happy.” The cyber security architect, based in Waterloo, south London, became an activist during his pursuit of a post-graduate degree in London. His involvement in opposing Assad’s governance precluded his return to Syria, leading him to seek asylum upon completing his studies. Mr. Almashi initiated the Syria Solidarity Campaign “to raise awareness about what has happened in Syria.” He stated that for the preceding 14 years, he had been “working full-time, campaigning full-time, and worrying full-time about loved ones.” He observed, “A lot of other Syrians that I’ve spoken to have said that initially it was good that Assad’s gone but then they face the reality of that when they FaceTime their family members back home.” He expressed, “I would love to go back to Syria,” further noting that it was “not the right time” for a return due to ongoing “unsafe” conditions. The United Nations reports that over 14 million Syrians have been compelled to abandon their residences in pursuit of safety since 2011. Mr. Almashi asserted, “Syrians had no choice but to seek safety in Europe for their children.” He remarked, “There are no institutions, no proper education, no safety, no economy, no jobs,” subsequently questioning whether, if Syrians were to return, the majority would need to depend on Western humanitarian assistance for survival. “I care about my family. This is why so many Syrians managed to stay in Syria. Every single family tried to get someone out, so we can provide for them,” he stated. He continued, “Syrians in exile, like my family, without me, they would be starving, they would be in the street.” He concluded, “When it is safe, people can go back.”