Men dance outdoors the Ummayad Mosque in Damascus, Syria, on Friday.
Claire Harbage/NPR
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Claire Harbage/NPR
DAMASCUS, Syria — Jubilant Syrians crowded the streets and mosques at Friday prayers in the present day to mark the downfall of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
On the Telegram messaging app, insurgent chief Abu Mohammed al-Golani inspired Syrians to go to the streets and specific their pleasure.
“I name them to get down to specific their happiness with out capturing bullets and terrifying individuals, and after that allow’s direct to construct this nation and as we mentioned from the start, it is victorious with assist from God,” he mentioned in a video message.
In the capital Damascus, individuals stood shoulder to shoulder at one in every of Syria’s most holy websites, the al-Umayyad Mosque.
People pushed previous one another, jostling for area, all attempting to make their method to the mosque’s courtyard and it was so packed, most did not make it inside. Children ran round waving the brand new Syrian flag, the temper like a competition.
People collect within the Ummayad Mosque courtyard on Friday.
Claire Harbage/NPR
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Claire Harbage/NPR
This was the primary time Syrians carried out Friday prayers within the Umayyad Mosque since opposition forces stormed the capital and overthrew Assad lower than per week in the past.
The historical mosque is adjoining to the tomb of the twelfth century Muslim hero Saladin, and a few consider the top of John the Baptist is buried contained in the mosque.
Its marble courtyard can also be the place Assad’s safety forces brutally clamped down on anti-government protests through the years.
A soldier with a flower in his gun on the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus on Friday.
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Claire Harbage/NPR
The sound of the sermon was faint outdoors, however the message was clear: The imam requested God to punish the boastful and the unjust and to punish Assad and his cronies.
The congregation responded with calls of “God is Great.”
After the prayer, individuals took selfies within the mosque with their households and hugged one another.
A baby holds the brand new Syrian flag on the Umayyad Mosque on Friday.
Claire Harbage/NPR
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Claire Harbage/NPR
Some got here for the primary time. Like greatest mates, 21-year outdated Mareya Keftaro and 20-year outdated Bayan Habash.
Giggling, they spoke over one another.
“Our land has returned to us,” Habash says. “I really feel prefer it’s MY nation now.”
Mohamed Yaser thanked God for this newfound blessing and mentioned he is been ready for this second for all of his 70 years. A second when he felt secure sufficient to wish right here.
People collect on Friday on the Umayyad Mosque on Friday.
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Claire Harbage/NPR
“The roads to the mosque had been stuffed with intelligence and safety,” Yaser mentioned. “I by no means needed to threat it.”
Khadija Hattab, 40, mentioned she thought of at the present time like a “nationwide wedding ceremony.”
“The feeling we’ve got in the present day is indescribable,” she says. “I am unable to put the happiness I really feel into phrases.”
And what did Hattab pray for in the present day?
She lets out a deep sigh.
“That God will preserve Syria a contented, secure and affluent place,” she mentioned.
