First Ramadan Without Assad Offers Syrians Relief and Reflection
Across Syria, citizens are observing the holy month free from the threats and repression that marked the Assad era
[Damascus] For the first time in more than five decades, Syrians are observing the holy month of Ramadan without the rule of the Assad family, following the collapse of Bashar Assad’s government earlier this year. The fall of the regime, which had maintained power since Hafez Assad’s coup in 1970, marks a historic turning point for a country ravaged by 14 years of civil war. This Ramadan, residents across Syria are participating in the holy month free from the daily threat of airstrikes, mass arrests, and political repression that had become hallmarks of the Assad years.
“During Ramadan, the deposed Syrian regime’s warplanes would appear overhead at iftar [the evening meal breaking the daily fast] time and drop barrel bombs and missiles. Dozens would die every day. We have painful memories of Ramadan under Assad,” Omar, a resident of Idlib, told The Media Line.
The war, which erupted in 2011 following peaceful anti-government protests and quickly spiraled into a multi-sided conflict, killed more than 500,000 people and displaced millions. Assad’s government, backed by Russia, Iran, and allied militias, retained control of Damascus and much of western Syria until late 2024. It finally collapsed under the pressure of repeated military losses and an imploding economy.
Bushra, who lost her husband in a 2014 airstrike in rural Idlib, described Ramadan as a time of grief. “Ten years ago, just before iftar, my husband—a nurse—was working in a hospital near Ma’arrat al-Nu’man when regime warplanes bombed it. A surgeon, my husband, and several patients were killed instantly. Ramadan has been a time of mourning for me ever since,” she told The Media Line.
People here are relieved to experience Ramadan without bombings for the first time in years
In areas that bore the brunt of Assad’s military campaign—such as Hama and Idlib—this Ramadan marks the first time in years that people are observing the month without fear of government attacks. “It was a way to inflict maximum suffering,” Mahmoud, an English teacher in the Hama province town of Halfaya, told The Media Line. “People here are relieved to experience Ramadan without bombings for the first time in years.”
According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), 19,192 civilians were killed during the holy month of Ramadan between 2011 and 2021. The group attributes 86% of those deaths to the Assad regime and its allies. The SNHR also documented 34,982 arrests during Ramadan months over the same period, including 214 children and 211 women—of which 33,219 were carried out by regime forces. During that time, 533 detainees died under torture, 511 of them at the hands of the Assad government.
Even in Damascus, which remained under government control for most of the war, residents who spoke with The Media Line say there is a new sense of freedom. “This is the first Ramadan after Assad’s fall, and people are overjoyed,” said Aiham, a clothing merchant. “There are no soldiers harassing people in the streets, no mass arrests. The old regime used to storm markets at peak hours to arrest young men or raid homes at iftar and suhoor [the pre-dawn meal before fasting begins].”
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Despite Assad’s fall, pockets of fighting persist between remnants of the old regime and the new authorities. In the coastal region, clashes during the current Ramadan have killed more than 1,000 civilians and several hundred security personnel, according to local officials.
While the violence has not ended completely, many Syrians are taking advantage of the opportunity to revive religious and cultural traditions that were restricted or heavily surveilled under the Assads. The government tightly controlled mosque sermons, banned prayer during military service, and maintained heavy surveillance over religious practices.
This Ramadan is unlike any before
“For years, I couldn’t pray in the Umayyad Mosque. Now, I’m finally back in Damascus, free from oppression, imprisonment, and fear. This Ramadan is unlike any before,” Ahmed, a Syrian who fled to Turkey in 2012 and recently returned, told The Media Line.
The Umayyad Mosque, one of the oldest and most revered Islamic sites, is undergoing its first major renovations in years. The new government has replaced its carpets and begun broader restoration work seen as symbolic of Syria’s recovery.
Still, the country faces a paralyzing economic crisis. The Syrian pound has collapsed, with 1 US dollar now trading at roughly 13,000 pounds. Some areas have turned to the Turkish lira as a more stable alternative. Prices for basic goods have skyrocketed.
“Ramadan requires a lot of money for food and drinks, but the cost of living is unbearable,” said Doha, a resident of Damascus.
Economic expert Samir Tawil said that the fall of Assad has not brought immediate financial relief. “Improving Syrians’ purchasing power in light of the difficult economic conditions after the fall of the Assad regime requires a set of economic and social solutions, whether in the short or long term,” Tawil told The Media Line.
Supporting essential goods through subsidies and regulating prices is crucial
He called for government subsidies or humanitarian support for basic goods like flour, sugar, and oil, as well as the expansion of financial aid programs through cash grants or shopping vouchers. “Supporting essential goods through subsidies and regulating prices is crucial,” he said, emphasizing the need for market oversight to prevent traders from exploiting the crisis.
To ease the burden, Syrian businessman Wael Al-Khalidi and his brother, political figure Firas Al-Khalidi, have launched a nationwide food aid campaign. “There is a dire need for humanitarian assistance,” they told The Media Line, warning that widespread poverty persists and millions remain displaced in camps.
Still, for many, the atmosphere this Ramadan feels festive and hopeful. Streets are lit with lanterns, and markets are filled with traditional Ramadan foods like ma’arouk, a sweet bread flavored with dates or spices; jallab, a fruit syrup drink made from dates and grape molasses; and licorice juice. Many Syrians say they are not only celebrating the holy month but also a renewed sense of national dignity and freedom.
After more than a decade of bombings, chemical attacks, sieges, and political persecution, the first post-Assad Ramadan offers Syrians a glimpse of what peace might look like.
