– It is a very great feeling. I woke up today and started laughing with joy, says Rajaa Kashan. A large Syrian flag hangs around the shoulders of Kashan and his sister Walaas. They are in the square in Fredrikstad together with several hundred Syrians to celebrate that the regime in their home country has been overthrown by rebel forces. The sisters Rajaa and Walaa Kashan fled Syria seven years ago. Photo: Elisabeth Tøtte Hansen / news Kashan says that she fled Syria with her family when she was six years old. Now what she has dreamed about for several years has become reality. Bashar al-Assad’s regime has been overthrown. The sisters have family in many countries, both in Syria, Lebanon and Turkey. She has not seen those who live in Syria for many, many years. Now she can finally visit them all. Many brought Syrian flags to the commemoration. Photo: Elisabeth Tøtte Hansen / news – A revolution Yasir Bashir Dish is also out celebrating this Sunday evening. While the flags in green, black white and red wave above the heads of those present, and it is shouted in Arabic that “all Syrians are one”, he tells about how the day is experienced for him. – It is an indescribable feeling. We are now celebrating a very special day. It was a dream that suddenly came true, after many had given up. Yasir Bashir Dish says what has happened in Syria is a revolution. Photo: Elisabeth Tøtte Hansen / news Yasir says they are celebrating a victory for freedom and humanity, regardless of religion or ethnicity. And he is clear about what he thinks about what has happened in his home country: – This was not a civil war. It was a revolution. Celebrations across the country Fredrikstad is not the only place where the Syrian euphoria has left its mark on the cityscape today. Syrians across the country have gathered in streets and squares to mark the end of more than 50 years of the Assad regime in the country. In Oslo, around a thousand people gathered outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Among them were Yasine Alhussein and two friends. Yasine Alhussein (right) and friends outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Oslo on Sunday evening. Photo: William Jobling / news – Finally we are done with him, with the idiot, with Bashar al-Assad. It is important to be here tonight, says Alhussein. – We celebrate that we are done with Assad after 13 years of civil war. We are done with him, he repeats, cheering. Six-year-old Larah Hannoura was also out with her family to mark the end of the Assad regime. – Today is a big day, says Larah. Norwegian Syrians gathered today in Oslo to mark the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. Lara (6) celebrated with her family. Dreams of going home In Kristiansand, too, several hundred Syrians had gathered on the square to celebrate. Many of them also hope to be able to return home. – It is difficult to describe how I feel now. I can try again when the tears have dried, says Tasnim Abs (24) to news. She came to Norway as a refugee when she was 17 years old. – We are a free country now! I know it’s dreaming, but I hope to see my family again for Christmas, says Abs. 24-year-old Tasnim Abs celebrated the fall of the Assad regime on the square in Kristiansand on Sunday evening. Photo: Tom Nicolai Kolstad / news Back in Fredrikstad, Najal Mohammed beams and almost shouts: – We have time off. Hooray! She says that from now on 8 December will be a day for celebration. She says it will be Syria’s new national day. Now she hopes there will be peace in other countries too. – Ukraine, Palestine. I hope for peace throughout the world, concludes Mohammed. Najal Muhammed hopes that there will be peace throughout the world. Photo: Elisabeth Tøtte Hansen / news Published 08.12.2024, at 23.32
ttn-69
