Local Syrian Couple Say ‘Hopes are Coming Back’ After the Fall of Assad Regime

Many Syrian-Americans are celebrating following the collapse of the Assad regime. The Public’s Radio’s Luis Hernandez spoke with a local Syrian couple about what’s been happening in Syria and how they see its political future unfolding

Amjad Kinjawi and Mayss Bajbouj-Kinjawi with their children.
Amjad Kinjawi and Mayss Bajbouj-Kinjawi with their children.
File photo / The Public’s Radio
Share
Amjad Kinjawi and Mayss Bajbouj-Kinjawi with their children.
Amjad Kinjawi and Mayss Bajbouj-Kinjawi with their children.
File photo / The Public’s Radio
Local Syrian Couple Say ‘Hopes are Coming Back’ After the Fall of Assad Regime
Copy

With the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, we wanted to hear from members of the local Syrian community to see what they think about the regime and the aftermath so far. We reached out to two Syrian-Americans we’ve spoken to before on the Public’s Radio, Amjad Kinjawi and Mayss Bajbouj-Kinjawi of North Attleboro.

Interview highlights:

On the reaction of Syrians to the fall of Assad:

Amjad: It’s a mixed emotion, considering that it’s quite an overdue moment that we were waiting for for a long time now. There’s a lot of joy, that’s for sure. But there’s a little bit of caution, as well, on what to expect. You don’t want a regime to fall and somebody else to take over and not be at the level of what the expectation of the people is.

Mayss: From people like my sister, I hear that they’re happy. My friends are happy to finally start a new chapter in our life with a different person. But as well, everyone is waiting, we are in a waiting time. Refugees had a really hard time because they had to flee Syria. You know, they were attacking them. They were torturing them. So for them to see Assad falling, it’s a big happiness, but it’s think they are still looking for justice because he hurt so many people.

This interview was conducted by The Public’s Radio. You can read the entire story here.

Gov. McKee faces an increasingly steep slope
Some clinician-researchers are building platforms to educate people about chatbots’ strengths and weaknesses, and developing AI bots that are meant to deliver therapy
The RI AFL-CIO, which helped McKee narrowly defeat Foulkes in 2022, declined to back either candidate in their Democratic primary rematch
The 46-year-old Providence resident says he plans on increasing government transparency while maintaining a commitment to children and working families
“America - Unfinished?!” has artists reacting to the nation’s 250th birthday and “Ascending” showcases the work of Indigenous artists from across the Northeast
It’s about both the journey and the destination. Turns out, finding Iron Mine Hill (and Rhode Island’s state rock) is truly a climb