Syrian Americans in Milwaukee celebrate fall of Assad regime

Photos by Mouna Rashid

Syrian families living in Greater Milwaukee gathered Dec. 8, the day the decades-long Assad regime fell from power, at the Islamic Society of Milwaukee’s Community Center for an almost spontaneous celebraation.

When Syria’s dictator fell Dec. 8, Syrian Americans couldn’t believe it, say celebrants who gathered spontaneously at the Islamic Society of Milwaukee Community Center. 

“It was like waking up in the morning and finding that life has shifted 180 degrees. Freedom in Syria seemed to be impossible just a day before, but with the will of Allah, anything is possible,” said Ayman Alamy of Franklin.

Milwaukee’s Syrians followed the news as Syrian opposition forces moved swiftly across the country. “We were communicating back and forth on social media and in WhatsApp groups,” recalled Waleed Najeeb, M.D., of Mequon. “We were all very excited about what was happening. Every minute there was a new development. Many of us got up in the middle of the night and started praying (for the opposition forces). Our hearts were with them. 

“Then it happened. They took Damascus. It was really a miracle. We started congratulating each other. After staying up all night watching developments on the news and chatting on social media, everyone wanted to be together to celebrate.”

More than 200 people from the Greater Milwaukee area gathered in ISM’s Community Center that very evening for a spontaneous celebration. 

Syrian Americans danced the traditional dabke at a joyful celebration marking a new beginning for Syria.

A dictator flees

“Syrian President Bashar Assad fled the country on Sunday (Dec. 8), bringing to a dramatic close his nearly 14-year struggle to hold onto control as his country fragmented in a brutal civil war that became a proxy battlefield for regional and international powers,” the Associated Press reported. His departure ended more than 50 years of control by the Assad regime, as Bashar’s father Hafez took control of the country in a 1971 coup.

“The conflict appeared to be frozen in recent years, with Assad’s government regaining control of most of Syria’s territory while the northwest remained under the control of opposition groups and the northeast under Kurdish control,” AP reported.

“However, the geopolitical tide turned quickly when opposition groups in northwest Syria in late November launched a surprise offensive. Government forces quickly collapsed while Assad’s allies, preoccupied by other conflicts — Russia’s war in Ukraine and the yearlong wars between Israel and the Iran-backed militant groups Hezbollah and Hamas — appeared reluctant to forcefully intervene.”

Pure joy

Syrian Americans in Milwaukee could not wait to express their joy, Najeeb said. “Seeing all the people celebrating in Syria, we were happy with them. Some of us wanted to plan something big for the next weekend but the majority said, ‘We can’t wait until the weekend. We want to do something today, immediately!

“So, we called the ISM. It is always very busy, with scheduled activities in place. It is reserved all the time. But they said, ‘We will manage. Just tell us what you need.’

With a place secured, Najeeb told the chat group, “‘Go ahead, I’m with you.’ I canceled all my meetings and came from the clinic to the ISM Community Center. 

“We started the celebration with no preparation but everything came together nicely,” Najeeb said. “Everything was from the heart. Everybody helped. I don’t usually dance the Syrian debke (a traditional folk dance) but I did. It was a really, really joyful event.”

“Most of the Syrian people in Milwaukee were there,” Najeeb said. “The refugees who came to Milwaukee since the Syrian war started in 2011, especially those from Daraa, who had suffered terribly, were extremely happy. They were dancing and singing, hugging each other. Someone’s daughter shared a poem. So did Ali Hamdan of Brookfield. Everybody expressed their happiness in whatever way they could.”

Azmi Alaeddin, a Palestinian American, and his wife, Reem, a Syrian American, brought a special Syrian flag to the celebration, Najeeb added.

“It was the new flag, which was the original flag when Syria was liberated from France, before the Assad regime took power.

“But where are you going to get a flag like that?” he exclaimed. “They went and bought the material then went to Nabil’s shop (Salous Men’s Wear & Tailoring). They made two huge flags. And another Syrian refugee brought a flag he made.

“It made me so happy that Azmi and Nabil (both Palestinian Americans) made a Syrian flag for us,” Najeeb said. “I also felt so happy to see so many Palestinians, Pakistani people and others come to share the happiness with us.”

“Happiness is an understatement to say the least,” Alamy said. “It was like watching a horror movie that lasted 55 years with a happy ending, where all the bad actors disappeared overnight and goodness prevailed. I think it will take a while to wake up from that beautiful dream and to start enjoying it.”

A change of heart

At the celebration, Ramiz Rashid of Franklin, reminded Najeeb of something he said three decades ago. They had been classmates in Damascus and they traveled back home to visit from time to time.

“We were coming back from a visit to Syria 30 years ago,” Najeeb remembered. “We sat next to each other on the plane. And Ramiz asked me, ‘How was your visit?’

“I answered, ‘I did not enjoy it. I don’t like Syria.’ He was shocked. 

“I told him, ‘I’m being honest with you. I couldn’t wait to leave. From the minute I got there, the army humiliates you. And you always have fear.’ Every time I remembered Syria, I remembered the regime. I grew up with that regime. At least eight of my friends disappeared completely and we never found out what happened to them. For many years, I did not even like to mention Syria.

“But when this victory happened, oh my God, something opened my heart. I felt like I had always loved Syria. The barrier between me and my birth country was gone. Everything moved in my heart.

“When we went to the hall and physically saw each other, although we had been talking on the phone all day, we hugged and I swear the hugs had different feeling. We were all thanking God for lifting the oppression. We want the same thing for all the umma (the global Muslim community), for Gaza, for Lebanon, for every person throughout the world to be liberated. It feels like the Arab Spring is back! Al hamdullah (thank God)!”

Overwhelming gratitude

Mohammed Kher Heder, M.D., of Brookfield shared the strong sense of gratitude to God he felt when he heard the news. He spoke in Arabic and later provided a translation to Wisconsin Muslim Journal.

“I feel all Syrian people, after their huge sacrifices, cannot express the degree of their happiness with the collapse of a brutal regime that caused so much suffering and bloodshed everywhere in Syria over many years. The happiness and the victory are for all Syrians and for all humanity that supports the values of justice, equality, freedom and democracy. 

“We cannot thank God enough. God is The Greatest and always shows us His ways of elevating those who suffered. After decades of torture in Syria, He brought this change in only 11 days and surprised the world.

“The hope is high that all Syrians can build the new state they deserve.”