DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — In churches across Syria, Christians gathered to mark the first Sunday services since the ousting of Bashar Assad, in an atmosphere of transformation and hope. Some worshippers were moved to tears, while others prayed with clasped hands.
“They are promising us that a government will be formed soon, and, God willing, things will improve because we got rid of the tyrant,” said one worshipper, Jihad Raffoul.
“Today, our prayers are for a new chapter in Syria’s future,” added Suzan Barakat.
The international community is also focused on Syria’s future. The U.N. envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, called for an immediate end to Western sanctions as the country’s new leaders, along with regional and global powers, begin to navigate the path ahead.
For years, Syria has been under sanctions from the U.S., European Union, and others, a result of Assad’s violent crackdown on peaceful anti-government protests in 2011, which eventually led to a brutal civil war. The rebel alliance that overthrew Assad and forced him into exile in Russia a week ago now faces the challenge of a country isolated by sanctions, which have worsened Syria’s economic difficulties.
Yet rebuilding Syria faces even greater challenges. The new transitional government has yet to outline a clear plan for how the country will be governed. The main group leading the offensive, the Islamic militant organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), is still designated as a terrorist group by the U.S., although direct communications with them have begun. Pedersen urged for a rapid international response following the rebels’ swift success.
“We hope for a quick end to the sanctions, allowing the international community to rally around the rebuilding of Syria,” he said.
Years of fighting have left large parts of Syria’s major cities damaged or destroyed. Reconstruction has been hindered by sanctions designed to prevent rebuilding of infrastructure and property in government-controlled areas without a political solution in place. Pedersen met with officials from the new interim government, formed by the former opposition forces that ousted Assad, led by HTS. U.S. officials have hinted at the possibility of removing HTS’s terrorist designation.
Over the weekend, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attended an emergency meeting in Jordan with 12 foreign ministers from the Arab League, Turkey, and senior officials from the European Union and United Nations, discussing Syria’s future after over 50 years of Assad family rule. They agreed that the new government must respect the rights of minorities and women, prevent terrorist groups from taking root, ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need, and secure and dismantle any remaining chemical weapons from the Assad era.
The interim government is set to rule until March, but the process for selecting a permanent administration remains unclear. Arab foreign ministers have called for U.N.-supervised elections, based on a new constitution approved by Syrians. “We need to begin the political process, one that is inclusive of all Syrians,” Pedersen said. “That process must be led by the Syrians themselves.”
He also called for “justice and accountability for crimes” committed during the war, as many families continue to search for tens of thousands of people detained by Assad’s government in prisons.
Before the war, Christians made up about 10% of Syria’s population, but many either fled the country or supported Assad out of fear of Islamist insurgents. Last Sunday’s church services were canceled.
“We were scared of the events taking place,” said Ibrahim Shahin, a Catholic church supervisor.
This Sunday, however, churches reopened, and the bells rang once again.
In another sign of Syrians’ desire for normalcy, schools in Damascus reopened for the first time since insurgents marched into the capital. At Nahla Zaidan school in the Mezzah neighborhood, teachers raised the three-star revolutionary flag in place of the former two-star flag.
“Although I think some of them are afraid, they came to build Syria and to live the victories of this country,” said Maysoun Al-Ali, the school director. “God willing, there will be more development, more security, and more rebuilding in this beloved country.
