Syria’s former president Bashar al-Assad fled the country on Sunday, leaving behind a monumental palace in Damascus that was once a symbol of his brutal regime. The armed rebels who stormed into the capital have taken control of the palace, now marred by looting and signs of decay.
Despite the damage, many remnants of Assad’s opulent lifestyle remain intact, including ornate reception rooms filled with wooden furniture and modernist sculptures in offices. However, this contrast between grandeur and scruffiness highlights the stark differences between the fallen leader and those who have taken his place.
Abu Oweis, a 20-year-old rebel fighter from Syria’s northwest, was appointed as our guide to explore the palace. Born into poverty, Abu Oweis joined an Islamist rebel group that led the assault against Assad’s regime. He expressed little interest in the offices where governance took place but instead marvelled at the scale of the palace.
Throughout the complex, we found evidence of the lavish gifts received by Assad from international visitors, including a two-foot-tall camel and a golden castle from Saudi Arabia. However, some remnants hinted at the souring mood inside the palace as rebels approached the city, such as shredded papers in a dumpster and a half-finished cup of coffee with cigarette butts.
Syrians outside the palace marveled at its grandeur while lamenting the hard lives they endured during the war, including economic collapse, lack of reliable electricity, and corruption. They expressed relief that Assad’s regime had been toppled, but acknowledged fears about their future.
As Syria embarks on a new path, the former palace will likely be transformed to reflect the values of its new masters, bringing hope for a brighter future.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/10/world/middleeast/assad-presidential-palace.html