For several days this month, the streets of Dearborn in south-east Michigan resembled those thousands of kilometres away in Damascus as cars blocked thoroughfares and motorways in the “Arab capital of America”.
Syrian Americans waved the green, white and black flag of the revolution, honked horns and danced in the streets as they learnt that loved ones back home were celebrating the lifting of a half-century of repression.
Right in the heart of the celebrations was Mahmoud Al Youssef, a native of Deraa province in southern Syria.
“We spent the whole night driving up and down the street, with the 'free Syria' flag on the front of our car,” he told The National. “I can’t describe the happiness inside me.”
He said that during the rebels' lightning advance from Idlib to Aleppo and then south to Hama, Homs and beyond, one specific TV image made him feel sure that Bashar Al Assad's regime had come to an end, even before it officially happened on December 8.
“There was a very well-known government checkpoint with a lot of soldiers, close to the border with Israel, called the ninth district, where they used to always detain me,” Mr Al Youssef said. “It was the kind of place that had been there a long time, and it was impossible that it would be easily taken down.
“But then, when I saw it on TV with no soldiers, even before Assad had left, I knew that once that had been taken over, that was it.”
The civil war in Syria, which began in 2011, fuelled the largest refugee crisis since the Second World War, with thousands of people like Mr Al Youssef eventually finding refuge in suburban Detroit. He recalled being detained by Syrian government security forces in 2013 and how, at around the same time, the army killed dozens in his hometown of Ghabagheb by shelling the area.
“I recall there was no reason for arresting me; it was random,” he said. “I remember they even arrested people who were on the side of the regime. They had lost their minds.”
Three of his brothers perished in the war, he said. Mr Al Youssef and his family fled Syria at the end of 2014 and stayed in Amman, Jordan, for about two years before being granted refugee status in the US.
Despite their physical distance from Syria, seeing the scenes of rallies and public gatherings in Damascus and beyond brought back waves of joy – and sadness – for many in Dearborn. The scenes from Sednaya prison, where thousands of political prisoners had been detained over the past 13 years, have laid bare the abuses perpetrated by the Assad regime.
For 22-year-old Yaman Harli, from Deraa, life in Syria is a distant memory, a collection of scenes he views on his phone every day. Although he was only 12 when he and his family fled the country during some of the worst violence in 2014, the experiences of life in Syria followed by five years living in the Zaatari camp in northern Jordan are etched into his memory.
“A few of my cousins died. One was 15 years old and was shot dead by a sniper in Deraa … [another] was imprisoned by the Assad regime,” he told The National. “There’s freedom [now], but it’s sad that we are seeing how many people were imprisoned and killed there and what that was like for people. It’s rare to find anyone who was detained by the regime in 2011 or 2012 who is still alive today.”
Many in Dearborn are worried about what might happen next in Syria and what that could mean for the wider region.
“I’m deeply concerned for what’s going to happen next,” said a man originally from Iraq who runs a furniture store and asked not to be identified. “[Israel] is bombing everywhere, and you can wake up and be bombed [if you are in Syria now]. I just say that people should be praying for Syria.”
It has been a hard path for many, especially those who have arrived in the US over the past decade as refugees. Many Syrians have been forced to compete with Yemeni refugees fleeing conflict in their own homeland for housing and job opportunities in the wider Detroit region.
Many, including Mr Harli, whose family also run a furniture store, on Warren Avenue, are now thinking of going back to visit – or one day moving back permanently.
He said he is keen to see his country as an adult for the first time but is under no illusions about the challenges Syrians will face. “I can go for a visit, but my future is here. My parents are talking a lot about going back next year,” he said.
But not everyone in Dearborn was overjoyed by the fall of the house of Assad. Mr Al Youssef’s daughter, Rama, has been the target of negative comments at school from some who supported the Assad regime, which has been upsetting for her.
“They say stuff like: ‘You don’t really know the truth or what’s really going on,’” she said.
Rama added that one evening, when out celebrating in their car adorned with the “free Syria” flag, other cars drove aggressively around them, in a move she felt was meant to intimidate them for celebrating Syria’s newfound freedom.
Lebanese and Iraqi Americans represent some of the largest Arab communities in the area, with many having roots in southern Lebanon, where support for Hezbollah, an organisation that had helped prop up the Assad regime, is strong.
But for Mr Al Youssef, who does deliveries and recycling work around Dearborn, the past cannot be undone and the feeling of freedom for his homeland is something to be savoured.
“It went on for so long that we were completely hopeless. But there is a meaning to life now. I take pleasure in what I eat, what I see, in my family around me,” he said. “But mostly, I take happiness in the fact that I’m Syrian.”
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 420 bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: from Dh293,200
On sale: now
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About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
MATCH RESULT
Liverpool 4 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Liverpool: Salah (26'), Lovren (40'), Solanke (53'), Robertson (85')
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
How to vote
Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.
They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi
Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday)
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
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Honeymoonish
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
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'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The years Ramadan fell in May
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Sweet%20Tooth
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Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Robbie Keane (Atletico de Kolkata) The Irish striker is, along with his former Spurs teammate Dimitar Berbatov, the headline figure in this season’s ISL, having joined defending champions ATK. His grand entrance after arrival from Major League Soccer in the US will be delayed by three games, though, due to a knee injury.
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Wes Brown (Kerala Blasters) Revived his playing career last season to help out at Blackburn Rovers, where he was also a coach. Since then, the 23-cap England centre back, who is now 38, has been reunited with the former Manchester United assistant coach Meulensteen, after signing for Kerala.
Andre Bikey (Jamshedpur) The Cameroonian defender is onto the 17th club of a career has taken him to Spain, Portugal, Russia, the UK, Greece, and now India. He is still only 32, so there is plenty of time to add to that tally, too. Scored goals against Liverpool and Chelsea during his time with Reading in England.
Emiliano Alfaro (Pune City) The Uruguayan striker has played for Liverpool – the Montevideo one, rather than the better-known side in England – and Lazio in Italy. He was prolific for a season at Al Wasl in the Arabian Gulf League in 2012/13. He returned for one season with Fujairah, whom he left to join Pune.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Tim Paine (captain), Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
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