DAMASCUS, Syria
Women from all over the country gathered in Damascus for the "Colors of Syria" bazaar to display their handcrafted goods.
The proceeds from these sales help support their families, while the bazaar itself provides a platform for economic independence and contributes to the country's economic recovery.
For years, the "Colors of Syria" bazaar has been a hub for making women's labor visible and strengthening solidarity among women.
Nabiga al-Atasi, a pharmacist who graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy at Damascus University, shared her story with Anadolu.
Participating in the bazaar to promote her small business selling homemade creams, she recounted the challenges she faced under the previous regime.
"Previously, the successes and efforts of young people without ties to the regime were overlooked," Atasi explained, adding that she had been unable to access state support to expand her business due to this bias.
She expressed gratitude for the newfound opportunities to develop skills and achieve recognition in a fair environment following the regime's collapse.
"I am very happy to be here," said Atasi. "My heart is filled with joy, excitement, and optimism for the future.”
“Thank God, we have regained our freedom, and justice is beginning to take root in Syria,” she expressed, stressing: “Now, those who work hard will reap the rewards of their efforts.”
“Anyone who wants to grow will have the chance to do so and achieve their goals," she noted.
Youth hopeful for future
Reflecting on the years of fear and oppression from 2011, when protests began, to the regime's downfall on Dec. 8, Atasi described the heavy shadow cast by the regime during her university years.
"There were times when even our freedom at university was suppressed. For instance, we were told that if we didn't vote for Bashar al-Assad, we wouldn’t be allowed to take exams," she said.
Praising the resilience of the nation’s youth who endured and resisted the regime's pressures, Atasi added: "We are very optimistic and excited about the future. God willing, it will be brighter and better."
Vision of unity
Mese al-Tabba, a 29-year-old woman from Damascus, recalled being a high school student when the civil war broke out.
"I had to take my final exams amid bombings, rocket attacks, fear, and terror. At one point, we were even forced to participate in pro-regime marches," she recounted.
Expressing her disdain for the regime, Tabba explained how nearly every household had lost someone to the regime's brutality, either through death or exile.
Tabba remained with her family while her siblings fled abroad and pursued graphic design education during this tumultuous period.
She highlighted the hardships faced under the regime, saying: "Whatever projects we undertook, the regime would take a share, effectively stealing our livelihood."
She also spotlighted the injustices and suffering endured under the Baath regime, including mass arrests, martyrdom, and unimaginable cruelty.
"We lived through a time when the regime was at war with its own people—not terrorism or any other enemy, but its citizens," she lamented.
Despite these challenges, Tabba expressed hope: "We believe we can build a better future and present our best selves to the world.”
“Our hope is to live in unity, free from sectarianism,” she stated, pointing out: “While some harbor resentment due to the loss of family members to the regime, we also believe in peaceful coexistence and progress.”
“This country belongs to all of us—Alawites, Shiites, Sunnis, Christians—and together, we will rebuild it," she added.
‘We deserve to live in peace’
Rana Tabba, the organizer of the "Colors of Syria" bazaar, expressed her joy following the regime's fall: "We are hopeful. People from many countries will visit us, and now we can freely express ourselves.”
"The women at this bazaar each represent a color of Syria and have their own stories, some of which are deeply heartbreaking," Rana Tabba explained, noting that many of these women started from scratch.
Reflecting on the oppressive past, she added: "We couldn’t speak out before; doing so would have consequences. The Syrian people were in anguish, unable to share their experiences."
Sharing a personal tragedy, she said: "If I were to recount my story, I would cry.”
“A young relative of mine was detained and died from torture a year later,” she recalled. “If he were alive today, he would be 36. He was his mother's only son. You’ve seen countless stories like this."
She further emphasized the collective hope among Syrian women for unity and a peaceful future, saying: "We deserve to rejoice and live in peace in Syria.”
Bashar Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party’s regime, which had been in power since 1963.
The takeover came after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham fighters captured key cities in a lightning offensive that lasted less than two weeks.
*Writing by Merve Berker in Ankara
