The good news is Syrians can now return home, but some Western leaders seem a bit too keen to be rid of them. It’s understandable of course, given the discourse and politics surrounding immigration and refugees, it seems Syrians have overstayed their welcome. But the fall of Bashar Al-Assad did not instantly transform Syria into a safe utopia. The war is still going on between various factions, and the rebuilding process will be slow. Of course it is Syrians who must rebuild the country, but with outside forces still involved and actively bombing the country, can you really blame the Syrians who don’t want to return just yet? Syrians who have settled nicely in the West will have to choose between staying with comfort and safety, or risking everything to return to an unstable country. All I know is human nature compels us to prioritise the wellbeing of ourselves and our loved ones, over abstract concepts such as nationalism and belonging.

Let’s talk about minorities, because the Western politicians and media seem very keen on focusing on this one issue. Yes, of course, minorities deserve to be treated equally and be allowed to practice their religions freely. It’s natural to feel concerned for minority groups because some of the rebel groups were formerly affiliated with extremist “Islamist” organisations. The issue is the apparent lack of concern for the majority Sunni population, who have suffered greatly under Al-Assad, and the condescending way in which the West treats the new Syrian leadership. It’s as if they see Sunni Muslims as inherently violent people who are itching to oppress minority groups; that the first Sunni to grasp any leadership will begin a genocide on non-muslims. You do not have to look far from Syria to see the nation that is committing an actual genocide that the world should be concerned about.

Another question is democracy, which appears to be the de facto solution that must be adopted after the fall of a dictator. But let’s ask the real question; will the West truly respect the decision of the Syrian people? Ahmed Al-Sharaa, a.k.a. Al-Jolani, is quite popular nowadays, not only due to his leadership among the rebel groups to free Syria, but also due to his diplomacy and willingness to compromise in order to unite the Syrian people. I have seen Syrian Christians online praising him, despite him being the leader of HTS and his past ties. If he decided to run in an election, there is a high possibility that he could win, and that would be the democratic decision of the Syrian people. However, he is a so-called “Islamist” (a word which really loses its meaning day by day) and the West will definitely not be happy with that, especially with Israel being so close. So will the West, with its calls for democracy, allow Syrians to enjoy the outcome of their decision? Or will they do what they did to Egypt, when the Egyptian people democratically elected the more Islamic leader?

The foreign powers swarm like vultures, and the carcasses of Arab nations are a delicacy. I don’t think Syria will be left alone, but the people have shown great strength and commitment to rebuild their nation and finally live in peace, and that is what I pray for.