Syria Diaries: Malak

At first, when I heard the news, I couldn’t believe it. We’ve been waiting for this moment for 13 years. I feel like I’m dreaming. We prayed a lot, handed out sweets to people and neighbors, and listened to revolutionary songs at full volume. Now, we’re anxious, waiting for the release of the detainees so our joy can be complete.

We stay awake all the time, glued to the news, waiting for any updates. We have relatives in detention and prisons who have been there for so many years. When my mother heard the news, she immediately went out to the street and handed out sweets. Syrian women are incredibly strong.

After decades of living under oppressive rule, Syrians are more aware now. We won’t accept just any kind of rule — justice has to come first. At this moment, women are somewhat worried because, while the men are eager to return, the women are questioning whether it’s truly safe. But overall, everyone hopes for a return and the spread of peace. Last week, there were tears of joy mixed with deep sorrow for the detainees — because as mothers, they know the pain of losing a son.

The country now needs workers and people with degrees. I graduated from the Faculty of Economics, specializing in Business Administration. I hope to work using my degree, ideally in the capital where I used to live.

Some people are afraid of the economic situation, the lack of jobs, and the collapse of the Syrian currency. Still, we wait and we hope, demanding a rule and future that guarantees our rights and our dignity. Syrian women are incredibly strong. We’re ready to go home.

Malak, 23, Zaatari Refugee Camp, Jordan