Completely dressed in black, with a long graying beard and a Kalashnikov slung over his shoulder, Abou Georges stopped every car approaching the entrance to Bab Touma. This gate leads to the Christian quarter of the old city of Damascus, where in the evening, young people and families stroll among churches, shops, and cafes. Georges made sure that no one entered with weapons. Nothing really set him apart from the general security officer in black uniform accompanying him, except for the large cross hanging around his neck that he kept discreetly under his jacket.
The 40-year-old is a member of Faza’a (“Come” in Arabic), an association created by residents of the predominantly Christian neighborhoods in central Damascus after the fall of the Syrian dictator, Bashar al-Assad, on December 8, 2024, to prevent looting. Individuals and unidentified groups are taking advantage of the prevailing security void. The WhatsApp group of Faza’a has more than 1,000 members. “With each incident report, hundreds of young people take to the streets to protect the neighborhood,” explained Maya Arkoush, co-founder of Faza’a and marketing manager of a beauty care company.
Faza’a leaders contacted the head of security of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the radical Islamist group that seized Damascus with other armed factions. “We informed him that young men have taken back control of their neighborhoods. We asked him to send reinforcements in case of incidents,” continued 47-year-old Arkoush. At night, Faza’a members ensure a presence at the security points they have set up in their neighborhoods.
You have 76.13% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.