Thousands gathered in northwestern Syria on Friday for weekly prayers and a rally in Latakia, a former stronghold of ousted President Bashar al-Assad. Clerics urged national unity under the new government formed after Assad’s overthrow. The crowd chanted slogans like “Freedom forever despite Assad” and “One, one, one, Syrian people are one.”
Syrian rebels, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda offshoot, toppled Assad’s regime on Sunday and promised a more inclusive government. After the first Friday prayers since the regime’s fall, religious leaders called on people to disarm and unite. Some waved the new Syrian flag while a rebel anthem played over loudspeakers.
Khaled Kamal, a Sunni imam who spoke at the gathering, expressed his joy at returning to Syria after fleeing during the war. He welcomed any president chosen by the people, regardless of sect.
The future of Syria remains uncertain, especially for its minorities. The country’s Shi’ite Alawite community, centered in Latakia, makes up about 10% of the population. Influential Alawite preacher Muhammed Reda Hatem Abdullah, who attended the rally, emphasized unity among all religious groups and stressed that the sanctity of Syria is tied to the sanctity of humanity.
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