Syrians in US mark year of liberation from Assad regime with culture, memories and hope

Hundreds of Syrians from the US capital region gathered on Sunday to mark one year since the fall of Bashar Al Assad’s regime. For many, it was the first time in years they had come together simply to celebrate Syria, rather than protest for it.

Mozaic, the non-profit behind the Echoes of Freedom event in Fairfax, Virginia, transformed a local meeting hall into a tapestry of the country’s 14 provinces. Textile patterns hung alongside old photographs, maps and handwritten labels that described the histories of the towns many of the attendees had fled long ago.

Near the stage, dabke dancers stomped in unison, a Mawaliya dancer performed the traditional rotational dance, and children, many born in the US, sang for peace in Syria. Videos highlighting the history of the war-torn country were played to a crowd of about 200 people.

On December 8, 2024, the Assad regime was overthrown by rebels led by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham. Relations between the US and Syria have improved over the past year, and President Donald Trump met Syrian leader Ahmad Al Shara at the White House in November. The US announced during the visit that it was renewing a waiver of Caesar Act sanctions imposed on Damascus.

Abdulrahman Aulabi poses with his daughter Rowda, aged one, at the Echoes for Freedom event. Nilanjana Gupta / The National

For Mozaic’s founder Raghad Bushnaq, the day carried profound weight.

“Syrians lived through five decades of oppression under the Assad regime, and finally, we got our freedom,” she said. “Usually, we gather to advocate, to protest or to demonstrate for Syria. Today, we are gathering to celebrate the victory.”

She highlighted the message of unity and noted that every province holds its own memory of resistance and loss.

“We need to present all of Syria together. Secondly, we want to educate Syrians and non-Syrians about our country,” Ms Bushnaq said.

Raghad Bushnaq, founder of Mozaic. Nilanjana Gupta / The National

Throughout the hall, booths were decorated with flags, photos of historic landmarks and carefully prepared dishes that carried the taste of home.

In the corner dedicated to Deraa, the southern province widely recognised as the birthplace of the 2011 uprising, Nour Al Huda displayed traditional sweets.

“We came to the US in 2016 as refugees to escape the war,” she said. “We first arrived in Arizona, then we moved to Maryland and finally to Virginia.”

On the table beside her rested the portrait of her brother, Mohammed Esam, 19, who was killed by the Assad regime.

Mozaic helped Ms Huda start a small salon in her home, one of the many quiet stories of rebuilding scattered throughout the room.

Nour Al Huda holds a photo of her brother Mohammed Esam who was killed by the Assad regime.