The Syrian town of Daraya, now being completely evacuated by regime forces, is iconic for the country's revolution. It saw the strongest non-violent resistance to the regime in the early days of the uprising, with efforts to promote cross-sectarian co-existence. Protesters… Read moreDaraya: from roses to evacuation
From Roses to Evacuation
by Leila Al Shami
Four years following its liberation, the predominantly agricultural town of Daraya, strategically located near Syria’s capital, has fallen to the regime. A deal was reached to evacuate the 4,000-8,000 civilians remaining from a pre-uprising population of 300,000. The local fighters who defended their town so courageously will go to Idlib and join the resistance there.
Daraya’s residents know that they may never return to their homes. Photos circulated on social media showed residents gathered at the graves of loved ones to say goodbye. Fears abound of a plan to cleanse opposition strongholds permanently; and in previous evacuation deals, even those carried out under UN auspices, many were detained by the regime, never to be seen again.
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