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Cautious reopening of bars in a Syria now in the hands of Islamists
The euphoria created by the fall of Bashar al-Assad passed, bar owners quickly worried about whether they would be able to continue their activity, while Syria is now ruled by Islamists. The days following the capture of Damascus by the armed coalition dominated by the radical Islamists of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), bars and alcoholic beverage shops remained closed. They were frightened by the rumors circulating on the networks social media reports of repression against the sale of alcohol prohibited by Islam. Determined to find out more, Safi, the owner of the Papa Bar in the Old City of Damascus, went to the police station in the Christian quarter of Bab Touma. “I told them that I owned a bar, that I wanted to organize a party there and serve alcohol,” he told AFP. “They replied: +Yes, open the bar, there is no problem for we have the right to work and live your life as before,” he adds, leaning at the counter of his bar where bottles of whiskey and Syrian arak sit. No official communication has taken place at the office. subject of alcohol but the new authorities have already announced that they would be tolerant towards the country’s different religious communities and social practices. “Talk about a ban on alcohol is false,” he said. indicated to AFP a manager of HTS on condition of anonymity. The new government has “bigger issues to deal with”, he insisted, somewhat exasperated. The Papa Bar and a handful of other pubs in the area have therefore reopened but customers remain worried. – “Well treated ” -The first evening, Safi welcomed around twenty people in a setting reminiscent of the Polynesian islands. But from the second day, customers became rare. “The people who participated were confused and afraid. They were there without really having the heart to party,” said the owner of the bar. For him, yes the new authorities sent a clear message to the population, ensuring that there is no fear regarding the sale and consumption of alcohol, “everyone would stay up until late and be happy, because we are in full in the month of celebrations”. For several days, the Christmas decorations light up the streets of Damascus, to the delight of the country’s large Christian community. In the Al-Alia restaurant, a singer ignites the crowds with popular hits, while customers taste mezze and sip beers and arak.”With what happened, we expected a big mess. But see, we very quickly came back to life and resumed our evenings and our rights”, says a 44-year-old customer, Mohsen Ahmad, determined to have a good time. The restaurant manager, for his part, expresses his fears for the future, even if for the moment the new masters of the country want to be reassuring. “In the middle of the party reopening, members of the HTS arrived. They left their weapons outside,” says Yezan Shalash. “They told people: ‘We are not here to scare you or terrorize you. We are here so that we can all live together in Syria, to allow everyone to enjoy the freedom that we have waited so long for,” the manager continues. “They have treated us very well but I am afraid that it will be temporary “, he said. The interim government will run the country under the supervision of HTS until March 1. After that date, there is great uncertainty. Until then, Safi hopes that customers will dare to come back for a drink , as before.dc/mer/at/ila
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