Syrian diaspora rejoices as rebels claim victory in Damascus
Syrian rebels announced on Sunday the capture of Damascus and the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, ending the president's 24-year authoritarian rule over the country. This news sparked a wave of joy among the Syrian diaspora in Europe, where thousands of people took to the streets to celebrate the historic event.
Numerous demonstrations took place in Berlin, London, and Paris. In the Kreuzberg district of Berlin, around 5,000 people gathered in the square. Participants, often entire families with faces painted in Syrian colours, waved green-white-black flags with three stars—a symbol of the rebels.
Germany is home to about one million Syrians, most of whom arrived after the outbreak of the civil war in 2011. Hundreds of demonstrators also gathered at London's Trafalgar Square and Paris's Place de la République, expressing joy and hope for a better future for Syria.
Syrians celebrate in Europe
Similar sentiments were present in Stockholm, where several hundred Syrians chanted for freedom, sang, and danced. Among those gathered were women with covered hair and faces. Sweden has welcomed around 250,000 Syrian citizens, especially after the 2013 decision to grant permanent residency to all fleeing Syrians.
The enthusiasm of the Syrian community was also evident in actions in front of Syrian embassies in several countries. In Madrid, demonstrators removed the official flag and hoisted the rebel flag. Similar incidents occurred in Athens, Belgrade, and Danderyd, near Stockholm.
Rebels also entered the residence of the Italian ambassador in Damascus in search of Assad supporters, but they did not harm anyone, reported the Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
The fall of the Assad regime represents a stage in the ongoing civil war in Syria since 2011. For many Syrians in exile, it is a moment of hope for the rebuilding of the country and a return to their homeland.
