Special Envoy to Damascus (Syria)Tradition says that magical, unexpected things happen at Christmas. Bashar al-Assad may be thinking that too these days from some secret place in Russia.
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“Christmas in progress” [Nadal en procés]the company that organizes the Damascus Christmas market announced a few days ago. In a video on Instagram, it showed operators finishing setting up the facilities. It was November 27. At that time, there was also something else going on in Syria in progress. The rebels of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) were about to launch an offensive that, at pace allegrowould be knocking down the big cities of Al-Assad’s Syria. They already know the outcome: Damascus fell a week ago, Bashar al-Assad fled with his friend Putin and now, in the new Syria, the rebel militias are in power.
There was no one at the Damascus Christmas Market yesterday. The entrance was guarded by two HTS fighters. “Journalist? From Barcelona? Welcome, pass, pass”, said one of them. The sympathy of the Syrian rebels with the international press that fills the hotels of Damascus these days is exaggerated. The market was closed. It had opened its doors on December 3, but had closed them due to the reactivation of the war. It could be any Christmas market in the world: hot chocolate, lights, wooden houses, figures of reindeer, hoardings of parenoels.
-Who closed the market? – he asked the militiaman.
-It was the same organization of the fair.
– Do you like Christmas?
– I am a Muslim, but I have no problem with Christmas.
Link to the official speech of the new Syrian government. Since they came to power, the rebels have reiterated both actively and passively that they will work to build a more conciliatory Syria, “a Syria for everyone”. For now, they’re getting it. The scenes these days in the streets are of total unity.
But the past of the group, linked to Al-Qaeda and of jihadist ideology, raises doubts about the treatment it may have in the future – when the spotlight is turned away from the country – with all the minorities that inhabit the country, of which there is a marked majority Sunni (70%): Shiite Muslims, Christians, Kurds, Druze, Armenians… There are also doubts, especially in international public opinion, about the future of women. And about how they will punish the collaborators of the Al-Assad regime.
In Syria, the rumor has been circulating for days that, in some localities far from Damascus, there have been public executions or lynchings of people who worked for Al-Assad. These rumours, however, could not be confirmed.
What can be confirmed is that there is movement on the border between Syria and Lebanon. Screens around the world these days showed images of happiness: Syrian refugees returning to their country after the fall of the regime. But last Thursday, at this border, there were more vehicles leaving Syria than entering it. It would be risky to jump to conclusions. “Some are Lebanese who took refuge in Syria and are now returning after the ceasefire with Israel”, warned a man used to making this journey. But entire families of Syrians, especially from the Shia minority, have preferred to flee to wait for what might happen. Many of those who might be suspected of having ties to the regime have also left, although popular support for the Al-Assad dynasty has been shown to be virtually non-existent.
Heavenly love at first sight
The love for HTS rebels has been at first sight. After more than fifty years of bloody dictatorship, the majority of the population had only one wish: that someone free them from Al-Assad. That someone has been the HTS militiamen, who are now treated like rock stars.
Love at first sight has reached even from heavenly levels. The priest of one of the Catholic churches in the historic center of Damascus received the ARA yesterday. His name is Siraj Dib and he speaks perfect Italian, the result of his stays in Rome. Christians are a religious minority in Syria.
-Are you afraid of the treatment that the new government may give to minorities?
-We come from hell. Al-Assad repressed them all in the same way. HTS has promised to be respectful to everyone. So far, they haven’t given me any reason to be suspicious.
-And his past linked to Al-Qaeda?
– They promise that they have overcome this phase, that they were wrong. The group has changed a lot.
-Have any of them come to talk to you?
– Yes. One of their representatives came. He assured me that nothing will happen to us, that they will form a Muslim civil government, but that they will respect other religions.
-Are you happy about the fall of Al-Assad?
– I am very happy. All the people of Syria are very happy. I will tell you one thing: the devil himself could install a regime and it would not be worse than what we have experienced with Al-Assad.
It must be assumed that Siraj Dib, as God’s representative on earth, is an authorized voice to speak about the devil.
The Salafis of HTS are increasingly trying to project an image of moderation to distance themselves from their past, which leaves them in a compromised situation: the United States has included them on the list of terrorist organizations. The evolution of look of its leader, Abu Mohammad al-Julani, is interesting. Over the years, he has been cutting his hair and beard – renouncing the trend that prevails among jihadists. In the last video he was out there without his usual military uniform. He was dressed in civilian clothes, with a sweatshirt. Some suggest he follows the aesthetic of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Saturday night was also interesting look. That of a parenoel who reluctantly walked through the historic center of Damascus. He sold balloons with lights and took pictures with people. His black beard stuck out from under his fake white beard. His uniform was tight and, when no one was looking, he puffed on a cigarette he had by his side.
It’s already Christmas in post-Al-Assad Syria.