In the bustling atmosphere of a small Syrian eatery in Berlin, the staff and diners celebrate a significant shift in their homeland. Razan Rashidi, an activist and executive director of the Syria Campaign, expresses joy as she enjoys free tea at the restaurant, marking the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. After years of operating under a pseudonym, she relishes her newfound freedom to use her real name, contemplating a possible return to Syria to reconnect with family.
The recent developments in Syria have sparked hope among the Syrian diaspora in Berlin, where over 970,000 refugees have resettled since the civil war began in 2011. Business owner Samer Hafez, who fled Syria ten years ago, grapples with the surreal idea of returning, having built a successful life in Germany with thriving restaurants and family. While many exiles consider visits or permanent returns, others express their newfound roots in Germany, citing the challenges and improvements in their lives.
Amidst the changing political landscape and asylum discussions in Germany, officials have suspended new asylum approvals but some politicians propose incentivizing Syrians to return home. Hafez finds such proposals bewildering, affirming his commitment to his life in Berlin, where he feels integrated and safe. The complexities of identity and belonging emerge as both a historical and emotional narrative for the Syrian refugees, who must reconcile their past with their present.
This unfolding situation represents a pivotal moment for Syrians abroad, balancing the urge to return home with the reality of settling in a new country where they have established their lives and identities.
The recent fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime has ignited hope among Syrian activists and refugees in Berlin, signaling a possible return to their homeland. While many express a desire to reconnect with family and history, others reflect on their established lives in Germany, illustrating the complex dynamics of identity and belonging. The future of Syrian refugees remains uncertain as political discussions about repatriation unfold alongside their personal dreams. This situation highlights the broader themes of displacement, home, and the struggle for identity, emphasizing the dual realities faced by many Syrians today as they reconcile the prospect of going back home with the life they have built in exile.