In Murfreesboro, members of the local Syrian community sing, dance, pray and play the drums. The room is filled with Syrian flags: Some are cloth, some are hand-drawn, and still others are made up of balloons. The green, white and black stripes with three red stars is a design that predates the more than 50-year-long Assad regime.
After 13 years of civil war, Syrian rebel forces have taken Damascus, and Bashar al-Assad and his family have fled to Russia, where they have been granted asylum. The Assad family ruled Syria with an iron fist for more than half a century and were known for torturing political prisoners and using chemical weapons against civilians.
Kinan Alrifai came to Murfreesboro as a refugee in 2014. One of her uncles and two of her cousins — who were in their 20s — were killed during the civil war in Syria.
“Finally, I can tell my children to be proud they are Syrian,” she said. “I’m so glad I lived to see this moment. I am living the dream.”
More: ‘We Don’t Look Back, We Look Forward’: A Syrian Family Rebuilds Their Life In Murfreesboro
Saleh Sbenaty came to Tennessee from Damascus more than 40 years ago due to the lack of political freedoms under the Assad regime.
“Overwhelmingly happy — it’s incredibly happy. I did not think I would live to see that day,” said Sbenaty, who is a professor of engineering at MTSU.
In recent years, he’s watched his homeland go through a bloody civil war and a desperate refugee crisis. Now, Syria’s future feels bright. He hopes the nation can fully rejoin the international community and become known for its rich culture, history and cuisine.
“Everything about Syria is beautiful and is going to be more beautiful after Assad’s regime has collapsed,” he said.
Sbenaty knows that some might have reservations about the rebel forces who deposed Assad — but he’s not worried.
“Even if the devil himself ruled Syria, it’s going to be better than what we had,” he said, laughing.
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