Hundreds of jubiliant Syrian-Calgarians celebrate end of Assad regime at city hall rally

Hundreds of Syrian Calgarians crowded into city hall Sunday, only instead of protesting for freedom, they were tasting it.

Hundreds of Syrian Calgarians crowded into city hall Sunday, only instead of protesting for freedom, they were tasting it.

Late Saturday night, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad fled the country for exile in Russia, ending 53 years of the reign of his family.

For Sam Nammoura, the spokesperson for the Syrian Refugee Support Group of Calgary, Sunday was the first time in 32 years of exile from his homeland that he could just say what was on his mind.

“First of all, we’re in disbelief up until this minute,” Nammoura said. “You are talking to me and I’m thinking, ‘What should I say? What’s going to happen if I say this? Or say that?

“So up until this (exact) moment, my brain is processing (the question), ‘What can I say because I’m afraid for my family back in Syria – if anything is going to happen to them?"

“It’s a Kingdom of Fear we lived in for 53 years.” (Before Bashar, his father Hafez al-Assad was the president).