In a powerful faith-driven and historic scene, the University of Damascus witnessed its first public congregational prayer on its campus after decades of oppression and restrictions imposed by the Ba'ath Party regime and the Assad family.
This exceptional event, documented by activists through moving video clips, represents a pivotal moment in Syria's history, as hundreds of students gathered in the university square to call the Adhan and perform the Dhuhr prayer, reflecting the triumph of popular will and the reclaiming of religious identity after many years of injustice.
Prayer was Considered a Crime
Activists pointed out that conducting prayer in Syrian universities was considered a serious crime under a repressive regime that prohibited religious expressions in educational institutions. They noted that prayers were held secretly inside student residences, under strict security surveillance.
Syrian journalist Ahmad Mufaq Zidan reminisced upon seeing this scene, saying: “When I saw the magnificent scene of the medical students' prayer at the University of Damascus, I remembered the late Imam of its mosque, the late Issam Al-Attar, may God have mercy on him, and I recalled the first prayer we held at Al-Mutanabbi Secondary School in Aleppo in 1979, after we managed to take a classroom, cleaned it, called the Adhan, and then prayed.”
Islamic preacher Dr. Muhammad Al-Awdeh commented, stating: “The scene of the Dhuhr prayer at the University of Damascus after decades reflects how much the Syrian people have suffered on all levels from the tyranny of an infidel, immoral, oppressive, and racist ‘mafia-like’ regime with multiple loyalties.”
Al-Awdeh added: “Prayer at universities was considered a crime, and it was done secretly in student residences under heavy surveillance.”
Dr. Muhammad Al-Sagheer, Head of the Global Supporters of the Prophet Muhammad Organization, affirmed that this moment is evidence that Islamic peoples are eager to return to their religion and natural disposition.
Meanwhile, Saudi writer Abdulaziz Al-Falih pointed to the Ba'ath regime's attempts to erase the religious identity of the Syrians, saying: “The Ba'ath Party (the Nusayri branch) has attempted for half a century to distort the beliefs of Syrians and to distance them from their religion… but never!”
For his part, Syrian journalist Ahmad Al-Asi described this moment, saying: “For the first time in Syria's history, hundreds prayed Dhuhr in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Damascus, and the only thing present was tears of joy and gratitude for having a homeland and tears of thanks to God for our deliverance from this criminal tyrant and the Assad era.”
On December 8, the regime of Bashar al-Assad collapsed after the Syrian opposition took control of the capital, Damascus, and other cities, marking the end of a reign that lasted 61 years under the Ba'ath Party and 53 years under the Assad family.
