“For several days, we have been talking incessantly about these events. And we are all in shock. In shock of the brutal and surprising fall of the regime, of its shameful end. And that makes me all the more sad. If the regime ends like this, what purpose have these fourteen years of wars, these half a million deaths, the international sanctions, the poverty which affects the whole country, the hell which has happened there?
In addition to shock and sadness, Thomas-Dibo Habbabé also evokes worry. “Personally, I am happy, I have joy at the fall of this regime. But at the same time, I fear chaos, disorder and the advent of another type of dictatorship: an Islamist theocracy.”
Bashar al-Assad, from the “butcher of Damascus” to the deposed dictator
Two sides of the same coin
While fearing the future, the priest insists and repeats that he feels no nostalgia for the regime.dictatorial, brutal, criminal, corrupt” which has just fallen. He also regrets that some of Syria’s Christians were able to side with the Assad regime in the name of defending minorities. “I don’t blame them, but all the current chaos is the result of this regime in power for more than 50 years and which has missed multiple opportunities for a peaceful transition of power. This regime has destroyed the humanity of Syrians, the education, the culture of these simple, welcoming and hardworking people. He bears responsibility for what happens to us.“
Thomas-Dibo Habbabé therefore makes no predictions for the future and remains filled with worry. “The rebels who took power are Islamists supported by Turkey. Are they going to install Sharia law? I don’t know. Yesterday, they allowed a priest friend to celebrate mass in a neighborhood of Aleppo, while at the same time they ordered Christian stores to no longer sell alcohol. Many of us say to ourselves that it is undoubtedly the Devil who will rule Syria tomorrow. But we are resigned… The Devil already held the country with the Assad regime. The Islamists and the Assad regime are two sides of the same coin…”
Abu Mohammed al Joulani, a former jihadist in search of political stature
In Brussels, the atmosphere is tense and worried within the Syrian Christian community (Armenians, Greek Orthodox, Maronites, Syriacs, etc.). If she tries to organize solidarity networks around the parishes, the priest testifies and underlines in writing, a few hours after the interview, that she is also overcome by a great feeling of guilt in the face of her inability to help the Syrians who live In “hell” of their country.
Believe without believing too much
Syrian of origin, former rector of the University of Namur, Naji Habra is marked by “emotional outburst who won the Syrian people. “It seems to me to go beyond what one could expect from the rather cautious Syrians.”he wrote on Facebook. “A sort of concrete screed has been lifted and the release of fear seems real… this time.”
“In fact, we want to believe it, but we remain very, very careful”he emphasizes to The Free. “We believed it in 2011 and it was then worse than anything we had known. We fear being disappointed. Nevertheless, the rapid fall of the regime, the recurring messages from representatives of the new power claiming to want to preserve the structure of the State and the army – unlike what happened in Iraq or Libya – their affirmed attachment to pluralism founding confessional of Syria testify to a desire for general conciliation.”
What future for Kurdish forces in Syria?
Between Sunni Muslims, Shiites, Christians and Orthodox, Druzes, Kurds… the Syrian people and their diaspora are very varied. Each of these communities observes, hopes or fears in its own way what is happening. However, they all share the same questions.
With everything that Syria has experienced, Syrians remain extremely cautious, strong in the idea that “It’s too good to be true.”conclut Naji Habra. “Will the newcomers and can they ensure security in the face of the risk of widespread disorder? Will the new leaders overcome the extremist temptation to establish an Islamist regime? A regime that will not reflect the plural Syrian society? Only time will tell.
