Following the fall of Syria’s 61-year Baath regime, the ban on selling second-hand goods, enforced during Hafez al-Assad’s rule, has been lifted. Street vendors and citizens have begun trading on Damascus’s bustling streets, a significant shift from the restrictions of the past.
Citizens expressed relief over the normalization, noting that selling second-hand items was previously punishable by imprisonment. “During Assad’s era, even importing second-hand goods was banned under the pretext of health concerns,” said vendor Omar Al Ali. He added, “Now, prices are affordable. I bought six pairs of shoes for just $1 each.”
Another resident, Muhammad Al Masri, expressed optimism for Syria’s future, saying, “Things are improving. Second-hand goods were once banned, but now people are flocking to buy affordable items. Syria will only get better from here.”
Rahmi Meyveci – Ahmet Arslan