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BEIRUT: Al-Manar: "Normal Life" In Damascus Neighborhood

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  • BEIRUT: Al-Manar: "Normal Life" In Damascus Neighborhood

    AL-MANAR TV REPORTS "NORMAL" LIFE IN DAMASCUS NEIGHBORHOOD

    Al-Manar TV (Lebanese Hezbollah TV Channel)
    Sept 26 2011
    Lebanon

    The Bab Tuma area, an area in the Syrian capital, Damascus,
    is experiencing a normal situation where people go about their
    business as usual both during the daylight and at night in terms
    of the movement of citizens and the state of stability prevailing
    there. The following is an investigative report by Hamzah al-Hajj
    Hasan, Al-Manar correspondent in Syria.

    AlManar correspondent AlHasan

    People in Bab Tuma

    [Al-Hasan] This is not archival video footage of the pulse of life in
    Syrian streets, for nighttime in Damascus is not much different from
    Damascus during the day. The Bab Tuma area offers an example of this.

    These markets remain open until a late hour into the night; and this
    is made possible by the fact that human waves, waves of young and
    old people, continue to frequent them. Stores and restaurants here
    are thronged with those who frequent them.

    [First unidentified man] I own a [words indistinct] juices shop here
    in Bab Tuma. God be praised, things have been brought back to normal,
    and they are better than before. Syria will definitely emerge strong,
    stronger, from the crisis. God be praised, the crisis has eased much
    compared to what it was in the past. Look at how people move about.

    God willing, Syria is in good shape, and it will remain in good shape.

    [Second unidentified man] Following Ramadan, business has seen a surge
    [in sales], and business has become much better.

    [Al-Hasan] That is, has business not been affected by the incidents
    seen?

    [Second unidentified man] Absolutely not. The impact has been positive,
    not negative. This is for sure.

    [Al-Hasan] Has business at your end seen a surge?

    First unidentified man

    Second unidentified man

    [Second unidentified man] Yes, business has seen a surge. Even parties
    have begun to see auras not seen before. I here mean the citizens'
    patriotism and their love for the country. They have always shown
    a desire to create a [pleasant] atmosphere even if they do not have
    money on them.

    [Al-Hasan] As for tight neighbourhoods, there is another story, as
    their alleyways exude a feeling of comfort, originality, and security
    even though they are tight. Here are churches and mosques that hug
    each other while climbing skyward. Here are crosses and minarets.

    [Unidentified Armenian Patriarchate official] Now, as you can see,
    you are walking in the streets of Bab Tuma, around patriarchates and
    churches. God be praised, we are not only in good shape. Rather, we
    can say that Syria is in the best possible shape. The whole world is
    against us. However, just as our president has said, it is God who is
    protecting Syria. It is God who is protecting these lands. Besides, Our
    Lady of Peace is also protecting these lands, and so are the angels.

    [Al-Hasan] The Assembly of Eastern Christians has spoken of concerns.

    Armenian Patriarchate official

    [Armenian Patriarchate official] We are not experiencing problems. It
    is others who are experiencing problems. As far as our ties [with
    Muslims] are concerned, we are brothers. Just as you can see in this
    street, you cannot distinguish a Christian from a non-Christian. We
    have always been brothers. This is not a recent fact. Rather, this is
    an old fact. On the contrary, this [changes thought] when the Pope
    came here to Syria, he said: Your country is an exemplary state. I
    would like to affirm to you that they [foreign visitors] will wish
    to visit Syria in the coming days. This is because our country will
    be an exemplary country. God be praised, our church is not only in
    good shape. Rather, it is in the best possible shape.

    [Al-Hasan] It is only the religious features in Bab Tuma which show
    you what you cannot make out on the faces of the residents of the
    Damascus neighbourhoods. For Syria has only one Bab [door]. As for
    Tuma, he is one of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ. As for Syrians,
    they are millions whose love for God and the homeland keeps growing.

    This is Hamzah al-Hajj Hasan and Kamil Karaki in the Syrian capital,
    Damascus, for the Al-Manar Channel.

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