“We are free”: Syrians in Turkey celebrate the end of Assad’s era: Video
Thousands of Syrians in Turkey’s Gaziantep, a city that hosts the second-largest Syrian refugee population in the country, took to the streets on Sunday, December 8, to celebrate the fall of President Bashar al-Assad.
The celebrations, marked by waving flags and joyous singing, echoed across Syrian communities in Europe, as reported by the AFP.
“The people are very happy. And not only here. Those who live abroad or in Syria as well. We are saved from the cruel Assad; we are very happy. May God make all dictators fall like Assad,” said Medjit Zein, a 40-year-old protestor in Gaziantep, as he expressed his relief and hope for a brighter future.
Turkey, which shares a long border with Syria, has provided refuge to about three million Syrians since the civil war began in 2011. Gaziantep has become a hub for the Syrian diaspora, playing a central role in their survival and integration efforts.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a message of solidarity and hope on Saturday, December 7, said, “Our wish is for our neighbour, Syria, to find the peace and tranquillity it has been dreaming of for 13 years… They are tired of war, blood, and tears.”
