Now that the Assad era in Syria is over, Syrians all over the world dare to dream again. Nader Machhadi (64), Aya (21) and Mohamed Alhaded (27) are some of the many Syrian refugees who fled to Sweden to escape one of the Middle East’s bloodiest dictatorships. What do they think of the sudden fall of Assad’s regime? And how do they see their country’s future?
The conflict in Syria has resulted in one of the largest refugee crises of the 21st century. Consequently, immigration to Sweden is significantly influenced by people fleeing Syria. The Syrian-born population is the largest immigrant group in Sweden.
One of those Syrian-born Swedes is Nader Machhadi (64). He was born in Aleppo and has been living in Sweden for 15 years now. He fled the country due to the lack of safety and freedom. The sudden fall of Assad’s regime thus came as a big relief to him.
“My life in Syria was non-existent”, he says. “Especially after I was forced to do five years of military service by an unjust regime.”
During his time in the military, Nader Machhadi was exposed to all kinds of cruelty. After his time as a soldier, he was also unjustly accused of being a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. In total he was jailed about eight times,each time being interrogated in “a very ugly way”.
“I suffered greatly during Assad’s leadership. There was no dignity,freedom or justice. I was tortured in their dungeons and wrongfully thrown in jail. But I was lucky, I got out and decided to leave Syria.”
Nader Machhadi likes his life in Sweden as it is “free and dignified”. But he does miss his home country. “I miss my family and friends who still live there and the many things I used to enjoy during my childhood and youth, like the playgrounds where I used to play.”
Even though he misses his home immensely, he will only return there as a guest. “One day I must return to my beloved country, but only as a visitor, to check on my family. I will always return to Sweden, my second country, which is very dear to my heart. It gave us a life again, after it was brutally taken away.”
“The future can’t be worse than the oppression and dictatorship that the Syrian people have already suffered”
As for the future, Nader Machhadi is optimistic as he dreams of a democratic and free Syria. “I don’t think it can be worse than the oppression and dictatorship that the Syrian people have already suffered. I just hope that Godwill protect us from any foreign powers that intend destruction upon our country.”
“Syrians are not naive. We are fully aware of what we’re up against and understand how external powers seek to undermine our sovereignty”
Aya (21), who does not want her last name published, grew up in Daraya, a town near Damascus. She’s been living in Sweden since 2015. No matter what the future holds for Syria, just like Nader Machadi, Aya is certain it will be better than the past. “It is Syrians who liberated Syria, it is Syrians who will determine Syria’s future and it is us, the people, who will rebuild it”, she says.“It was a liberation movement against a 54-year-old tyrant rule.”
Aya criticizes what she calls “the constant doomsaying by non-Syrians”,disguised as concern for Syria’s future and the challenges ahead, the West’s Fear for Syria’s future rings disingenuous and hollow to her. “Where was the world when Syrians were being massacred en masse? Where was this flood concern and political analysis when Syrians were suffering in Assad’s torture dungeons?”, she asks herself.
“Syrians are not naive. We are fully aware of what we’re up against and understand how external powers seek to undermine our sovereignty”, Aya says. “We’re conscious of the internal challenges that we face. A certain fear of the unknown is natural, but do not strip us of our agency. We refuse to let the world dictate our narrative.”
“The moment Assad fell was the most incredible moment of my 21 years of life—nothing compares to it”
The fall of Assad’s regime felt like a huge miracle to Aya. “Everyone who supported the revolution was absolutely certain that we would eventually reach this day, even if we lost hope many times along the way. Hope was always stronger than despair.”
“The feeling I and millions of Syrians experienced was greater than any other feeling in the world. It was a victory of the detainees over their jailer, a victory of the people over a tyrant who ruled for 54 years. There was nothing more beautiful than that moment. The moment Assad fell was the most incredible moment of my 21 years of life—nothing compares to it.”
Aya celebrated the downfall of the regime with other Syrians in Gothenburg, singing the songs of the revolution,hugging each other,crying, laughing, andscreaming. “We were all gathered in the square,shocked and overjoyed,as if we were dreaming”,she says.
She was really young when the revolution started, but still remembers the excitement everyone had back then. “I remember the loud chants in the demonstrations, the slogans, and the revolutionary songs—it all felt like a dream. It was literally voices against weapons”, Aya recalls.
“This regime has always made people live in fear. Even as kids, we were scared to say anything”, she says. Assad’s regime had people listening and controlling everywhere, “Syria’s surveillance state was an existential threat to Syrians, it’s a truth that defined generations”, she continues. “The fall of the regime means unlearning that fear. For the first time ever, Syrians are able to speak freely.”
In August 2012, when Aya was in Daraya, the Daraya Massacre happened. Many civilians were killed – entire families were wiped out, Aya remembers. “The fear back then was unreal. What made it even scarier was not knowing if the rest of our family and loved ones were still alive. They cut off all communication and electricity, so we were completely in the dark.”
Aya left Syria in 2014. She hasn’t seen her home country since.
Mohamed Alhaded (27), a university student in Gothenburg who was born in Aleppo, is a bit more cautiously optimistic than Aya and Nader about the future of his home country. “While there are still many challenges ahead, like rebuilding infrastructure, removing landmines, and creating an environment where everyone feels safe to return, I believe Syrians have shown incredible resilience and strength”, he says. With the right support and determination, he thinks the country has a chance to recover and thrive again.
“I’m not scared of the future, instead, I’m hopeful. Change is never easy, but it’s necessary. The courage and perseverance of the Syrian people make me believe that a brighter future is possible. It may take time, but I have faith in our ability to rebuild a better Syria”
Mohamed Alhaded came to Sweden about ten years ago, when he was only 16 years old.“I fled my city in Syria because of the bombing and violence caused by Russian and Assad’s air strikes, as well as the spread of Iranian militias. At the same time, my city was under the control of ISIS, who oppressed us and persecuted anyone who opposed them.” As he didn’t want to take part in the war, he had no choice but to leave.
“We were overjoyed to see the dictator fall and witness the release of thousands of forcibly detained prisoners”, he says. “Watching videos and photos of millions of Syrians leaving camps and neighboring countries to return to their homes was truly moving.”
Mohamed Alhaded and his family were thrilled to see the city they called home liberated, but returning to Syria is still a difficult choice for them. “Our home is completely destroyed, the city is filled with landmines, and there are no basic services or living conditions. The city has been abandoned for seven years, leaving it empty and in ruins.”
According to Mohamed Alhaded, the recent changes in Syria, such as the fall ofAssad and the release of prisoners, are a step in the right direction. “These events give hope for a better future and signal the possibility of rebuilding the country. For Syria, this could mean a chance to move toward freedom, justice,and stability after years of conflict and suffering.”
“I’m not scared of the future, instead, I’m hopeful. Change is never easy, but it’s necessary. The courage and perseverance of the Syrian people make me believe that a brighter future is possible. It may take time, but I have faith in our ability to rebuild a better Syria”, he concludes.