Syrians gather in Damascus for Friday prayers after fall of Assad: NPR

DAMASCUS, Syria — Jubilant Syrians packed the streets and mosques today for Friday prayers to commemorate the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani encouraged Syrians on the messaging app Telegram to take to the streets to express their joy.

“Instead of shooting bullets and scaring people, I call on you to come down and express your happiness,” he said in a video message. “Then I will tell you to build this country. As I have said from the beginning, this With God’s help, the nation will prevail.”

In the capital Damascus, people stood shoulder to shoulder at the al-Umayyah Mosque, one of Syria’s holiest sites.

People were pushing each other aside and jostling for space, trying to get to the mosque’s courtyard, which was so packed that most people couldn’t get inside. Children ran around waving new Syrian flags, creating a festival-like atmosphere.

It was the first time Syrians held Friday prayers at the Umayyad Mosque since rebels stormed the capital and overthrew Assad’s regime less than a week ago.

This ancient mosque is adjacent to the 12th century tomb of Saladin, a Muslim hero, and some believe that the head of John the Baptist is buried within the mosque.

Its marble courtyard is also where Assad’s security forces have brutally suppressed anti-government protests for years.

The sermon could be heard faintly outside, but the message was clear. The Imam asked God to punish the arrogant and unjust and to punish Assad and his cronies.

The congregation responded with the call, “God is great.”

After prayers, people took selfies with their families and hugged each other inside the mosque.

Some of them were here for the first time. Like best friends, 21-year-old Mareya Keftalo and 20-year-old Bayan Habash.

They talked to each other, giggling.

“Our land has been returned to us,” Habash said. “I feel like this is my country now.”

Mohamed Yasser thanked God for this new blessing and said he had been waiting for this moment for 70 years. The moment he felt relieved that it was okay to pray here.

“The road to the mosque was filled with intelligence and security,” Yasser said. “I didn’t want to take any chances.”

Khadija Khattab, 40, said she considered the day a kind of “national wedding.”

“Words cannot describe the emotions we are feeling today,” she says. “Words cannot express the happiness I feel.”

And what did Khattab pray for today?

She took a deep breath.

“I hope God keeps Syria a happy, safe and prosperous place,” she said.