In Tall, the last town before the prison, located some 10 kilometers to the south, young men are standing at an intersection holding up signs: "Pull over to the left for Sednaya Prison.” The last two or three kilometers must be traveled on foot. It is an almost biblical scene: A long process of people, stretching for several kilometers, first approach the facility by road before then winding their way up the hill along a shortcut through yellow even scorched grass.
They are vigilant, anxious to stay on the narrow pathway for fear of potential mines. And, says a lawyer who is returning from the prison with a pile of documents, they have been coming since Sunday morning. The surge has shown no signs of waning since then.
Not even at night. In many other places around the country, millions of people are rejoicing over the end of fear, oppression and constant chicanery – and hoping for the return of normalcy after so many decades. Even as the days pass and the overthrow recedes into the recent past, the celebrations are continuing.
It is a euphoria born also of astonishment. The fact that Syria’s regime has now collapsed so suddenly and completely after having clung to power for so long with such an extreme system of brutality presents a unique opportunity. The old regime simply gave up.
Something new can now take shape in a civilized fashion, even if the intentions of the country’s new rulers remain difficult to read. The opportunities, at least, have never been better. .
