Hope and Hardship: Syrians Observe Ramadan Under New Reality
For the first time in over 50 years, Syrians are observing the holy month of Ramadan without the Assad family in power. In a powerful and deeply human story, reporter Rizik Alabi brings readers into the homes and hearts of Syrians across the country, where a sense of cautious relief replaces years of trauma.
Bashar Assad’s government, which had ruled since Hafez Assad’s 1970 coup, collapsed earlier this year following battlefield defeats and economic collapse. For Syrians, especially in hard-hit areas like Idlib and Hama, this Ramadan marks a return to communal traditions and religious practices once banned, restricted, or surveilled. Survivors recall past years when warplanes bombed neighborhoods at iftar and regime raids disrupted homes during suhoor. More than 500,000 were killed during the 14-year civil war, and during past Ramadans alone, nearly 20,000 civilians died—most at the hands of Assad’s forces, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights.
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Even in Damascus, where Assad held control for most of the war, residents now describe a rare sense of freedom and spiritual renewal. Still, the country faces deep economic troubles. Inflation is rampant, the local currency has collapsed, and the cost of living makes observing Ramadan financially burdensome for many.
While some areas still face conflict between old regime loyalists and new authorities, many Syrians are choosing to focus on rebuilding their lives, reviving cultural rituals, and nurturing a long-lost sense of dignity.
Rizik Alabi captures the blend of pain, resilience, and cautious hope that defines this first post-Assad Ramadan. Read the full article for a moving portrait of a nation trying to heal.
