BAYIRBUCAK, Syria/ISTANBUL 

After more than five decades, the Bayirbucak Turkmens in Syria’s Latakia province are preparing to observe the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in an atmosphere of security and peace following the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime.

Bashar al-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.

For years under Assad’s regime, their neighborhoods were neglected and marginalized. Now, young Turkmens are cleaning the streets and decorating them with lights symbolizing the holy month.

Despite economic hardships, including rising prices for staple foods like meat and cheese, residents express gratitude for a Ramadan free of oppression.

Abdurrahman Molla, a resident of Dawshiran village in the Bayirbucak region, described the transformation that is occurring.

“We are working together, hand in hand, to clean our neighborhood. Nothing is impossible—things are starting to change,” Molla told Anadolu. He noted that years of bombardment by regime forces had left homes in ruins.

“No one can return home. It’s hard enough to find daily food, let alone rebuild our villages. It is only with support from Türkiye that we can rise again,” he said.

Ashraf Akcha, from the village of Kulcuk, is working to repair the local electrical grid and participating in cleanup efforts.

“There are huge struggles—no jobs, no money. Even buying basic foods like dates, rice, or chicken is difficult,” Akcha said.

Despite the devastation, he remains hopeful. “Our homes are in ruins, our gardens have turned into forests, but we won’t give up. We will rebuild because this is our homeland. With unity and solidarity, we can overcome anything.”

- ‘For first time, a free, peaceful Ramadan’

Shadi Darwish, another resident, described his joy at experiencing Ramadan without fear.

“We are very happy. There was no such freedom before. Now, we can decorate our neighborhood—something that used to be forbidden,” Darwish said.

However, economic struggles persist, with many residents going unpaid for months.

“Some things are very expensive. Hopefully, salaries will be paid so life can improve. We managed to buy a little bit of dates and cheese for suhoor (pre-dawn meal before starting fast),” Darwish said.

Hamad Dib, from the village of Turun, likened the moment to Syria’s second independence, following the country’s liberation from French occupation.

“Thank God we have regained our freedom. For the first time, we will spend a Ramadan truly freely, without torture and oppression."

Mahmut Amin Aga, a Turkish and Arabic teacher from Issa Baili village, described the shift as a historic transformation.

“We got rid of the regime; we have regained our independence and our culture, and we are experiencing something very special and new. People are at peace, and everyone is reunited with each other. There is security and spiritual peace.”