Syrian refugees are celebrating the end of the Assad regime. But for Omar Alshogre and millions like him, going back to Syria is a complicated decision. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Rob Byers, and hosted by Noel King. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast Support Today, Explained by becoming a Vox Member today: http://www.vox.com/members Syrians arriving at the border crossing between Lebanon and Syria to return home following the collapse of the Baath Party regime. Photo by Murat Sengul/Anadolu via Getty Images. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The most beautiful moment was when I was seeing the prisoners being liberated from Aleppo and further to Hama and to Homs.
And then when they came close to Sayyidina prison, it got really serious in my heart because it was a place that I know very well.
I spent almost a year there.
That was when Omar el Shouguri was 19 years old.
Today he's 29.
He's living and working in Stockholm and he was watching as Syria's dictatorship fell.
I didn't know that a human being could be so happy before.
I'm telling you, the joy was so unmatchable.
I wanted to laugh so hard, I wanted to jump.
But I ended up crying like a baby and I cry of the joy of being free.
It's the first time I feel it.
Now Omar has a choice to make his happy life in Sweden or or his newly freed country.
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