Syrians gather for Friday prayers for the first time since Assad’s ousting

Ten Years of Living in Berlin, a Refugee Says: “I’m a German, and I’m here in Germany”

Like many of the tens of thousands of Syrians who have settled in Berlin since Syria’s civil war began more than a decade ago, Rashidi was out late the night before, celebrating in the streets. It was amazing for me to hug people and tell them that Syria does not belong to the Assad family.

Customer Razan Rashidi orders her tea with a celebratory phrase in Arabic, and the men manning the counter beam, telling her that on this day of liberation, tea for a fellow Syrian is free.

The liberation is personal to the woman, who is named Rashidi. She used to work as a human rights activist as Laila Kini, which meant she needed to hide from Syrian security officials. She is using her real name again, for the first time in 17 years, as the regime that interrogated and harassed her before she fled Syria is no more. She’s finally free to be herself, a feeling she thinks many Syrians are sharing this week.

“Home for me is here in Germany,” he says. “Sure I’m Syrian, but I’m also now a German. I miss Berlin whenever I’m on vacation. I can’t stay away more than a couple of weeks. I have built a life and a business here. My family is here. Germany is my home. At least for now.”

The rebels’ swift seizure of power in Damascus over the weekend brought a sudden end to more than 50 years of rule by the Assad family. According to the United Nations figures, 6 million people were forced to flee the country because of the civil war that began in 2011. Official German statistics count more than 970,000 of them living in Germany, where politicians are making their presence a political debate ahead of elections next year. Now, with change afoot in Syria, many of the exiles are considering visiting or moving back for good, although others feel settled in their new home in Europe.

Ten years ago, Hafez was on a crowded boat in the Mediterranean Sea, fleeing his home country. He ended up in Berlin, a refugee, speaking no German, with no job and with barely any money in his pocket. Hafez remembers when he arrived in Germany, he had a to-do list. After crossing off everything I needed to do to live here, I got my first job and started learning German. Then I met the woman who is my wife. We had children who were older than us. Then I opened my first restaurant. Then the second. Next, the third. It was the first time that I felt safe when I got my German passport, and it happened because I just got it.

Aleppo Supper Club now has three locations in Berlin and serves what some call the best hummus in town. Since making it to Germany, Hafez has been able to bring his mother and siblings over, too. His sister just graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering, his sister is currently studying to become a doctor. Like many Syrians who arrived a decade ago, Hafez’s life is here.

German authorities have suspended approval of Syrian asylum claims for now, as have several other countries. But some German politicians have gone further: calling on the Syrians already settled in the country to leave.

This week on national television, Jens Spahn, a politician from the center-right Christian Democratic Union party, which is on track to win the most votes in the coming German election, made a public offer to Syrians. Spahn said the German government could charter flights to get Syrians out of the country for a small fee. I’m thinking of all of the young Syrian men in Germany, who want to give their homeland a future and who want to help us make it possible for them to return to Syria voluntarily.

The people of Syria gathered in the streets and mosques for Friday prayers to show their support for the downfall of the Assad regime.

The Imam of the Umayyad Mosque: When Syrians Come to Say Good Things Without Shooting Bullets and Scare People

He said in a video message that he called for them to be down to express their happiness without shooting bullets and scaring people, so that they would be able to build the country.

Many people tried to get to the mosque’s courtyard but it was crowded and most didn’t make it inside. Children ran around waving the new Syrian flag, the mood like a festival.

The Umayyad Mosque was the first mosque that Syrians performed Friday prayers in since opposition forces invaded the capital a week ago.

The ancient mosque is adjacent to the tomb of the 12th century Muslim hero Saladin, and some believe the head of John the Baptist is buried inside the mosque.

The sound of the sermon was faint outside, but the message was clear: The imam asked God to punish the arrogant and the unjust and to punish Assad and his cronies.

He said he has been waiting for this moment for 70 years and that he was thankful for this newfound blessing. A moment when he felt safe enough to pray here.