Syrians hold up an opposition flag and a placard depicting deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with his eyes crossed, during a rally in Trafalgar Square, central London, on 8 December 2024. Benjamin Cremel/AFP
“Don’t ask me where I’m going, I have no idea.” After several sleepless nights, Samar Yazbeck took a flight to Doha. The Syrian writer, in exile in Paris since July 2011, wanted to join her daughter, who lives in Qatar. What followed was a leap into uncharted waters. On Sunday Dec. 8, 2024, a dictatorship that lasted half a century in Syria ended “Forever has fallen” is the only thing that can be taken for granted. Yazbeck, in her 50s, will be visiting the homeland “as soon as possible.” She will write her next book “in [her] own country.” She also dreams of setting up a culture center, resuming work on the ground and building a “different Syria.” But for now, tomorrow is more of a blank page than anything. There is still a great deal to be done. Between hope and expectation, “what the new regime will do” is yet to be seen. Like her,...
“Don’t ask me where I’m going, I have no idea.” After several sleepless nights, Samar Yazbeck took a flight to Doha. The Syrian writer, in exile in Paris since July 2011, wanted to join her daughter, who lives in Qatar. What followed was a leap into uncharted waters. On Sunday Dec. 8, 2024, a dictatorship that lasted half a century in Syria ended “Forever has fallen” is the only thing that can be taken for granted. Yazbeck, in her 50s, will be visiting the homeland “as soon as possible.” She will write her next book “in [her] own country.” She also dreams of setting up a culture center, resuming work on the ground and building a “different Syria.” But for now, tomorrow is more of a blank page than anything. There is still a great deal to be done. Between hope and expectation, “what the new regime will do” is...
