The Erasure of Assad: A Symbolic Shift in Aleppo
A palpable shift occurred in Aleppo as the echoes of conflict subsided. Giant billboards featuring President Bashar al-assad, onc omnipresent across the Syrian landscape, were dramatically set ablaze and removed from the city center’s main square. Red,white,and black national flags,previously adorning lampposts,were replaced with the so-called “independence flag,” signifying a move away from the Assad regime.
Even outside the city hall, a monumental banner bearing Assad’s visage was taken down. A second banner, grotesquely marked with bullet holes and depicting his face, remained, perhaps as a chilling reminder of the tumultuous past.
Across Aleppo, a sense of collective purging permeated the air. Citizens and the newly empowered authorities seemed driven by a fervent desire to eradicate any symbols associated with the Assad dynasty. This sentiment underscored the profound impact of years of conflict, which had seen Bashar al-Assad ascend to power in 2000 after the death of his father, hafez, who had ruled Syria for 29 years.
Memories of a 2008 visit to Aleppo, when banners of Assad’s face dominated public squares, streets, and government buildings, flashed through my mind. Now, those same banners seemed to have been systematically removed or destroyed, highlighting the city’s symbolic conversion.
Aleppo: A City Redefined After Years of Conflict
Aleppo, once syria’s vibrant commercial heart, has emerged from a brutal civil war transformed. The city fell to Islamist-led rebel forces earlier this month, marking a pivotal moment in the conflict that ousted President Bashar al-Assad after five decades of oppressive rule.
Among the first acts of the victors was the symbolic dismantling of the city’s history. they toppled a large equestrian statue of Assad’s late brother,Bassel.
A statue of their father, Hafez al-Assad, also suffered the same fate. Aleppo had been a key battleground during the brutal war, witnessing intense fighting between government forces and opposition fighters that began in 2011 when Assad violently suppressed peaceful protests.
Thousands lost their lives in the conflict and tens of thousands more were forced to flee their homes. But with Assad’s regime overthrown, many are now returning – some from other parts of Syria and others from abroad, hoping to rebuild their lives in a city reclaimed from the ashes.
A City Regains its Spirit
Aleppo’s Streets Come Alive Again After Years of Devastation
Life is slowly returning to the once-ravaged streets of Aleppo,Syria.Public spaces that stood eerily empty for years are now filled with people, marking a tentative but hopeful resurgence for the war-torn city. Aleppo,a city steeped in history and culture,endured years of conflict that left its infrastructure shattered and its people displaced.
In 2016, after years of intense fighting and bombardment, the Syrian government retook control of East Aleppo. This victory,considered a turning point in the Syrian conflict,ushered in an uneasy peace. The scars of war remained deeply etched, with buildings reduced to rubble and many residents fearing to return.
Mahmoud Ali, an 80-year-old resident, recalls the shift in atmosphere. “When the regime fell,we could raise our heads,” he said.
Ali fled Aleppo in 2012 as the fighting intensified, seeking refuge in Idlib, a northwestern province then under the control of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
But the recent change in Idlib, with HTS relinquishing its hold, has prompted Ali and others to reconsider. They see a glimmer of hope and a chance for a new beginning in a city they once called home.
The Assad Regime: A Legacy of Fear and Repression
For decades, the Assad family held a tight grip on Syria, ruling with an iron fist and silencing any dissent. For millions, like 45-year-old Samar, this was the only reality they had ever known.
A Glimmer of Hope?
In the aftermath of the protests, a wave of change swept through Aleppo. New authorities emerged, a faint glimmer of hope in a landscape scarred by fear. Billboards began to appear, displaying powerful images of chains around two wrists with a stark message: “Freeing detainees is a debt upon our necks”.A palpable sense of relief mingled with trepidation hangs heavy in the air as displaced Syrians begin to return to their homeland. The joy of homecoming is tinged with a deep-seated fear,a legacy of years spent under the shadow of repression.
For one family, the return is bittersweet. While their faces light up with smiles for the camera, their words reveal the lingering anxiety.”We’re happy, but there’s still fear,” says Samar.”Why are we still afraid? Why isn’t our happiness full? It’s because of the fear they [the regime] planted inside us.”
Her brother, Ahmed, echoes the sentiment. “You could be sent to jail for saying simple things. I’m happy, but I’m still concerned. But we’ll never live under repression again,” he insists, his voice tinged with cautious optimism.
Their father, joining the conversation, adds a resolute, “That’s unfeasible.”
The family has returned to a country grappling with immense challenges.They reside in a small flat where electricity is sporadic and heating nonexistent. The rebuilding process is daunting, and for many returning Syrians, like this family, the path forward is unclear. With over 90% of the population living in poverty, anxieties about the future are widespread.
Adding to these concerns is the uncertainty surrounding the rule of HTS, a group originating as an al-Qaeda affiliate. As one neighbor puts it, “No-one could …
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