Before she fled Syria for the UK in 2016, Raya Homsi was told her fiancé had been killed in the brutal Sednaya prison run by the Assad regime. All she had to go on was the word of one person who said he had witnessed it.
But after the fall of the regime, the human rights campaigner wonders if he may be alive, among the thousands of people freed from the facility near Damascus dubbed the "human slaughterhouse" by Amnesty International.
"I have nothing official so I'm still a bit hopeful that maybe that was not true, and maybe he will be among the people released from Sednaya prison," she said.
Homsi is one of nearly 30,000 displaced Syrians in the UK celebrating the fall of the dictator Bashar al-Assad, and what Keir Starmer described as his "barbaric regime", over the weekend, when the rebel Islamist alliance Hayat Tahrir al-Sham seized power.
Fireworks shot up into the sky and crowds cheered in Trafalgar Square on Sunday afternoon as Syrians based in the UK celebrated a day many thought they would never see. Similar celebrations took place across the country, including in Manchester, where Homsi has built a life since she fled Syria.
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin December 10, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin December 10, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
In Wimborne Minster's panto no one can hear you scream
For anyone weary of the usual feel-good festive films - Love Actually, Elf, Miracle on 34th Street and so on - a joyfully amateur retelling of the classic space horror Alien by Dorset bus drivers may just appeal.
'Ultimate superficiality': experts cast doubt on tech that could soften the blow of grumpy texts
Is that you? Or is it the bot? Linguists have said the nuance and character of human language are at risk, as Apple becomes the latest tech firm to launch artificial intelligence tools that can rewrite texts and emails to make users sound more friendly or professional.
Puberty blockers for gender dysphoria banned indefinitely
Puberty blockers for under-18s with gender dysphoria will be banned indefinitely across the UK except for use in clinical trials, the government has announced.
Human rights warnings after Fifa awards 2034 World Cup to Saudis
Fifa set the seal on one of the most controversial decisions in its history yesterday by confirming Saudi Arabia would host the 2034 World Cup.
'A daily living hell' Sara Sharif's father and stepmother guilty of her murder
Sara Sharif's father and stepmother have been found guilty of her murder, as questions were raised over missed opportunities to save the 10-year-old.
Syrian rebel leader vows to pursue torturers
The Islamist rebel commander responsible for the downfall of the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has said that those responsible for torture and killing in the notorious prisons system will not evade justice after the extent of the regime's crimes against its own people in detention centres was revealed.
Ministers to axe more than 10,000 civil service jobs in budgets purge
Ministers are to cut more than 10,000 civil service jobs as Whitehall departments battle to stay within spending limits under a new government efficiency drive, the Guardian has learned.
Saudi storm FA warned to avoid protest unless boycotting World Cup
The Football Association board has been warned by voices in internal discussions to avoid protesting at today's meeting that will confirm Saudi Arabia as host of the 2034 men's World Cup, unless it is willing to boycott the tournament.
ECB ready to extend KP's controversial Hundred deal
Exclusive
Villa ride luck after Barkley's winner sinks spirited Leipzig
After Jhon Durán scored, another ludicrously powerful strike within seven minutes of entering the field, he celebrated by showing the Aston Villa supporters the palms of his hands, as if to say, calm down, what else did you possibly expect?
