After collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Montrealers yearn for a new, democratic Syria
Most rejoiced at the news, but remain wary of the implications of this power shift
Faisal Alazam's children have never seen the landscapes of Syria or smelled the scent of its emblematic olive trees.
The Syrian Montrealer arrived in the city in 2002 and his political activism since 2011 has made it difficult for him to go back.
Now, a return to his homeland finally feels within reach.
After a half century of despotic rule by Bashar al-Assad and his father, who killed or imprisoned anyone who challenged the family dynasty's iron rule, many Syrians around the world breathed a sigh of relief early Sunday.
Alazam and others gathered at Square Victoria on Sunday afternoon to celebrate the beginning of a new era for the country. They were all smiles, embracing each other, sharing traditional delicacies, waving Syrian opposition flags while chanting a song that's been a symbol of a Syrian revolution that took a dramatic turn in the last two weeks.
The rise and the fall of a family dynasty
A conflict erupted in the country in 2011 after al-Assad cracked down on anti-government protesters during the Arab Spring. Humanitarian groups point out that al-Assad's forces murdered over 300,000 opponents and imprisoned countless thousands more in the aftermath of the demonstrations.
The situation quickly spiralled into a civil war between Syria's army and anti-government factions. The struggle had been at a standstill for a few years until allied forces opposed to the regime, including the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launched a blitz offensive on Nov. 27 and seized control of Damascus, the capital, on Sunday.
After more than 13 years of civil war, al-Assad's regime was overthrown and the dictator fled to Russia.
"It's a new chapter that opens for us Syrians," said Alazam. "The happiness is incredible."
He describes the al-Assad family's rule as "decades of tyranny and dictatorship." Having spoken on the phone with his aunts and friends back home, he said they were "beyond ecstatic."
But concerns remain about the fate of the Middle Eastern country. Many Syrians fear that it could fall into the hands of radicals.
The Montrealer, who is also the director of the Syrian Kids Foundation, which works with refugees, explained that although he anticipates a rocky transition, he remains optimistic.
"The communication so far has been excellent from the people fighting on the ground, talks of preserving institutions, talks about protecting our minorities, no vengeance," Alazam said. "Those are the kind of things that we want to hear, us that want the democratic, free Syria."
He remarks that members of the diaspora have to do their part to hold those who are going to be in power accountable for the promises they make.
Alazam noted that Canada's sanctions on Syria have had a positive effect, but that some government actions should be reconsidered now that the situation has evolved.
"I think it would be a good time to start revisiting some of these political decisions so that Syrians can breathe again, can redevelop their country, and some of us that want to go back, show our children the country that we grew up in," he said.
Dreams of rebuilding Syria
Leila Kayali, another member of Montreal's Syrian diaspora, says she and others were in disbelief when they heard the news.
"We did not think this was going to ever happen," she said. "There is so much generational trauma. For some of us, it's our parents. For some of us, it started with our grandparents. It's been going on for a very long time."
The videos of families released from al-Assad's imprisonment brought her joy.
"So far, people have been coming together, different religions, different sects, we're all coming together. We really want to rebuild," she said. "So all these refugees, especially people living in camps, can go back home and rebuild."
She hopes other governments will "leave us alone" and not interfere in the process.
James Devine, associate professor in the department of politics and international relations at Mount Allison University, also didn't anticipate the sudden plot twist.
"It's shocking, really. The situation seemed to have been frozen since 2014, 2015," he said.
Devine explained that most people expected that the regime's military would regroup in time to stop the rebels from entering Damascus after they took over Aleppo.
Now that al-Assad has been overthrown, Devine says there are concerns that warrant careful consideration.
"There are a number of different groups inside of Syria now who are going to be contesting and competing for power," he said.
But given how much Syrian people suffered at the hands of the regime, he also understands the celebrations and adds that there are signs that the transition can be smooth.
"The current leadership under [HTS leader Abu Mohammed] al-Golani seems to be pragmatic. They are sending the right signals about having good relations with the various minority groups within the country and that they're not interested in seizing power simply for themselves," said Devine.
He remains careful, warning that the world has heard this kind of discourse before without it leading to the changes that were promised. Some minorities, including Christians and Alawites, in favour of the regime have expressed their disappointment over the news.
Despite her apprehensions, Kayali is confident Syrians are taking the necessary measures to ensure the country doesn't get usurped by undesired forces.
"There's no indications of this, so that's why I think it's important to celebrate with us, and be happy for us," said Kayali.
With files CBC's Chris Brown and Justin Li and Radio-Canada's Samir Bendjafer and The Associated Press
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