In a monumental moment for Syrians, President Bashar al-Assad’s decades-long rule ended on December 8, sending waves of joy and relief among the millions of forcibly displaced Syrians across the globe. The event was celebrated extensively on social media, where these refugees shared their reactions and hopes for the future of their homeland.
Human Rights Activist, Rima Flihan, took to Facebook to express her overwhelming emotions, “Oh God, I cannot stop crying. I am imagining the day I go back.”
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has classified the Syrian situation as the world’s largest refugee crisis, with an estimated 6.6 million Syrians forced to flee their homes since the conflict began in 2011.
Many Syrians expressed a bitter-sweet sentiment on the news, as one Facebook user wrote, “How lonely is this feeling of happiness when we are all scattered [across the world].”
Throughout the early hours of the 8th, social media was buzzing with updates and reactions to the fast-paced events. As opposition forces entered Damascus, videos of celebrations and joyful tears dominated the online platforms.
The jubilation reached a crescendo when news broke that opposition forces had taken over the notorious Saydnaya prison near Damascus, releasing tens of thousands of political detainees held there. “This is the day we all waited for,” wrote one relieved user.
The end of Assad’s rule brings hope for the return of a nation to its people. As another user succinctly put it, “Syria is now for Syrians.”
