John Adoyi
As Syrians across globe continue to jubilate over the end of Bashar al-Assad’s brutal regime, the country’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Mohammad Bashar, has called on the citizens who fled the 14-year-long civil war to return home and contribute to rebuilding the war-torn nation.
In an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera, Bashar, who was appointed by the rebel groups who forced out Assad, urged Syrian refugees to embrace the opportunity for renewal in their homeland. “Mine is an appeal to all Syrians abroad: Syria is now a free country that has earned its pride and dignity. Come back, we must rebuild, be reborn, and we need everyone’s help,” he said.
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Since the war began in 2011, nearly 6.2 million Syrians sought refuge abroad, with 4.9 million fleeing to neighboring countries like Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon, and 1.3 million resettling primarily in Europe. The conflict, which claimed 500,000 lives and displaced over 7 million internally, reached a pivotal point on Sunday when rebel forces overtook Damascus, the country’s capital, forcing Bashar al-Assad to flee to Russia. Meanwhile, Assad’s fall led to another problem for Syrians seeking refuge abroad. Many countries in Europe, including Germany and Austria, have halted plans to accept Syrian refugees. These countries stated that their lives are no longer at risk as Assad is gone. However, many are still skeptical. Meanwhile, Bashar underscored the importance of their return, calling their experience and skills essential to rebuilding the nation’s fractured economy and infrastructure.
“Their human capital, their experience will allow the country to flourish,” Bashar said.
Despite his optimistic tone, the road ahead is fraught with challenges. The country remains scarred by sectarian divisions, economic collapse, and fears of a resurgence of extremist groups like ISIS.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist group that spearheaded the rebel offensive, has sought to reassure Syria’s diverse population, including religious minorities, of their safety under the new regime. Bashar echoed this promise, pledging to uphold justice and equality for all Syrians.
He told the Italian media that the “wrong behaviour of some Islamist groups has led many people, especially in the West, to associate Muslims with terrorism and Islam with extremism”.
“The meaning of Islam, which is ‘religion of justice,’ was distorted. Precisely because we are Islamic, we will guarantee the rights of all people and all sects in Syria,” he said. He also emphasized the importance of reconciliation, offering peace to any individual or group unaligned with the former Assad regime.
Bashar’s government will be in place until March 2025, with plans to establish a permanent government thereafter. The global response to his appeal for repatriation remains uncertain, as Syrians abroad weigh the risks of returning to a country scarred by war but filled with hope for renewal.
The United Nations has appealed to the countries planning tto send back Syrians to hold on.
