The residents of Damascus largely celebrated the autumn of Bashar al-Assad’s hated regime with pleasure, after 13 lengthy years of brutal civil struggle.
However the metropolis’s ingesting holes did have one concern.
The insurgent military that overthrew the previous chief was led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group which some drinkers feared would forbid the sale of alcohol.
For 4 days after the HTS fighters entered the town, pubs and liquor shops remained shut however no crackdown emerged and now venues are tentatively reopening.
And Safi, the owner of the Papa Bar within the winding alleys of the Previous Metropolis, needs everybody to relax and revel in a drink or two within the usually busy Christmas season.
– Social media fears –
In an interview with AFP over the bar in his cellar pub, Safi — who didn’t give his household title in order to not determine neighborhood origins — complained of a social media pushed panic.
When rumours began spreading that the Islamist gunmen in charge of the neighbourhood have been going to crack down on bars, he went to the police put up they management on the Bab Touma roundabout.
“I advised the them that I personal a bar and wish to maintain a celebration and serve alcoholic drinks,” he stated, standing in entrance of a row of bottles of imported Scotch whisky and positive Syrian arak.
“They responded: ‘Sure, open the place, there isn’t any downside with that in any respect. You might have the best to work and reside your life as you probably did earlier than’,” he stated, as pop music blared.
The HTS-led authorities has not made any official assertion on the standing of alcohol and lots of bar homeowners and eating places closed as the town fell to the lightning insurgent offensive.
However the brand new authorities has additionally harassed that it’s an interim administration and might be tolerant of all social and spiritual teams in Syria.
“Discuss an alcohol ban is just not true,” an HTS official advised AFP on situation of anonymity. Pressed, he grew to become exasperated, insisting the federal government had “greater points to cope with”.
The Papa Bar and a handful of close by pubs have duly reopened, however commerce is mild and Safi would really like the federal government to make a firmer public assertion that they’re protected.
On reopening night time, he hosted round 20 folks for a late night time get together underneath the gaze of Tiki Bar-style grimacing Polynesian statues, however on the second night time issues have been quiet.
“The individuals who attended the get together have been confused and afraid. They have been on the get together, however they weren’t completely happy,” he complained.
“But when there may be reassurance… you will discover the entire world staying up late and completely happy as a result of we at the moment are within the month of Christmas, the month of celebrations.”
Syria has a big Christian minority which celebrates Christmas and decorations are going up in Damascus.
Within the Al Alia restaurant across the nook, a singer was belting out well-liked hits as party-goers loved huge platters of mezze and quaffed arak and beer.
The room wasn’t full, however Dr Mohsen Ahmad, a jovial and stylishly dressed character was decided to have a very good time.
“We anticipated an enormous mess within the scenario,” he advised AFP, as neon get together lights glinted off the hanging snowflake decor. “However we’re in a short time again to our life, night time life, our rights.”
– Occasion with a singer –
The supervisor of the Al Alia, Yezan Shalash, stated HTS fighters had interrupted the venue’s re-opening night time get together however had not closed it down.
“We began working yesterday. Issues have been excellent … there was a celebration and a singer. Folks began to return. In the midst of the get together, members of HTS got here,” he stated,
“They, entered with all politeness and respect. They took off their weapons exterior the door.”
As a substitute of raiding the joint, the previous rebels have been eager to reassure everybody that enterprise might proceed.
“They advised folks: ‘We did not come right here to scare anybody, or terrorise anybody. We’ve got come right here to reside collectively in Syria, having fun with the liberty that we’ve got been ready for thus lengthy,” Shalash stated.
“They handled us very nicely yesterday however I’m afraid that this might be momentary.”
Syria’s new interim authorities will proceed underneath HTS management till March 1. After that, the bar homeowners do not know what to anticipate. Within the meantime, Safi needs drinkers to return out.
