People celebrate after the ousting of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, during a gathering after friday prayers in Latakia, Syria, December 13, 2024. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
Thousands Rally in Northwestern Syria for Unity Under New Government
Calls for Unity After Assad’s Overthrow
In the port city of Latakia, a former bastion of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, thousands gathered on Friday for prayers and a rally emphasizing national unity under Syria’s new administration. The event marked the first Friday prayers since Assad’s removal and featured speeches by prominent clerics urging reconciliation and cooperation among the country’s diverse population.
Crowds outside the Al-Ajjan Mosque chanted slogans such as “Freedom forever despite Assad” and “Syrian people are one.” Waving Syria’s new flag, attendees expressed optimism about the promises of tolerance and inclusivity made by the new government, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al Qaeda affiliate.
Clerical Messages of Hope and Reconciliation
Religious leaders used the occasion to call for disarmament and the return of Syrians who fled the country during the war. Khaled Kamal, a Sunni imam who had been living abroad, described the rally as a moment of profound joy.
“We welcome any president for Syria, whether it’s a Sunni, an Alawite, or a Christian, as long as the people choose him,” Kamal said, stressing the importance of democratic inclusivity.
Muhammed Reda Hatem Abdullah, an Alawite preacher attending the rally, echoed the call for unity, emphasizing the need to transcend sectarian divides. “The unity of Syria is an ambition that we will pass on to future generations,” Abdullah stated, highlighting the significance of national solidarity for the country’s future.
Uncertain Future for Minorities
While HTS has pledged a tolerant and inclusive new order, concerns remain about the fate of Syria’s minority groups, particularly the Alawite community, which has historically been associated with Assad’s regime. Shi’ite Muslims, including Alawites, constitute roughly 10% of Syria’s population, which was estimated at 23 million before the civil war began in 2013.
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