Following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, conservative Muslim rebels quickly placed restrictions on Damascus' nightlife, forcing the closure of 60 bars. Naveen Mahmoud, owner of Cosette, was shocked when government agents sealed her bar without warning. This move came even after assurances of continuity. However, public backlash through social media led to the quick reversal of these closures. As rebel leaders navigate their newfound authority, they face the challenge of harmonizing conservative values with the secular culture that many urban residents enjoy.
"But all of a sudden, they did this! They didn't give us any reason, or any warning." This illustrates the unpredictability and tension surrounding the new regime's rule.
"It's an example of how Syria's new leaders... are still finding their way, wrestling with how to mesh their conservative Islamic values with the secular lifestyle of many of their fellow citizens."
"The night after Assad fled, Kifah Zainie threw a party at the popular Damascus watering hole he co-owns... It felt like a carnival, he recalls."
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