The Hamilton restaurateur returns to Syria after 12 years for a bit bittersness meeting with the family, the former staff

After 12 years away from his homeland, Mohamad Tomeh said that being back in his mother’s arms made him feel “safe” and young.

She was the first person that the restaurateur of Hamilton, 42, went to see after his return on July 11 in Syria, where he was born and grew up. He has a restaurant in the city of Ontario called Tomah: A Taste of Syria and used a cheese plant in his hometown of Al-Nashabiyah.

“She was very happy,” he said 12 days after her arrival.

Bashar al-Assad was ousted as president of Syria and his government overthrew at the end of last year after a rapid offensive of armed factions. At the time, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on social networks: “The fall in Assad’s dictatorship ended decades of brutal oppression.”

Tomeh said he felt “very happy” when he learned the news and gave a free Baklava in December after the ouster of Assad.

“Now I think my country is on the right track to be safe (still) and friendly with the world,” he said.

Tomeh said he hoped to stay in his hometown for a few more weeks. The journey was full of soft moments of reunion and happiness, but also sadness and loss.

“I did not find my friend and some people from my family because I lost people,” said Tomeh, who left his hometown in 2013.

“But … I’m happy because I saw my family, I saw … so many friends.”

The Tomeh restaurant is at 242 King St. W. in downtown Hamilton, the city of Ontario, he called his house since his immigration to Canada in 2018.

Tomeh said he had worked in the cheese industry in Syria almost all his life. His factory, which he had had for 15 years before leaving, had been destroyed with the city’s commercial area.

Among the rubble, however, what remained standing is his old grenade and his olive trees – in which he found symbolism and motivation as they, “do not die, flourish again”.

Syria is always faced with difficulties

More than two million Syrians – About 600,000 of neighboring countries and 1.5 million which have been moved to Syria – have returned home since December, according to the United Nations High Commissioner Office.

Tomeh is one of those who left Syria in 2013 due to an in progress conflict. According to the 2021 census, more than 97,000 people in Canada list Syria as a place of birth. Between November 2014 and December 2015, 44,620 Syrian refugees arrived in Canada, according to immigration, refugees and citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Tomeh remains full of hope with regard to the future of Syria, but wants to raise awareness.

“Life is very, very difficult (here). No electricity, no gas, no water.”

Last week, for example, some parts of the South and Damascus of Syria were struck by Israeli air strikes in the worst fights since the fall of Assad, while Israel has increased its campaign to support the Druze minorities, saying that it is working to maintain southern demilitarized Syria. The new government of Syria was also faced with clashes between militias linked to the group of Arab minorities and local Bedouin fighters.

Some experts argue that Israel’s involvement aims to question the authority of the new state and to maintain its own ability to influence Syria.

Many Syrians return to a largely destroyed country

BASIT IQBAL, an associate professor of the anthropology department of McMaster University, spoke to CBC Hamilton about the uncertainty that the Syrians returned to the country are still confronted.

“Many have houses that have been destroyed, bombed or anything, and if they do not have the funds to rebuild, because there is an economic crisis, and I think it is as if 80% of the country was on the poverty line,” said Iqbal.

His next book, The dread heights: tribulation and refuge after the Syrian revolution, is based on work on the ground around Syria and looks at the different relationships of people with Islam in wartime.

Iqbal said he was doing research for the book,, Near the southern Syrian border in Jordan and spoke to a man with whom he still communicates.

“He was constantly talking about his dream of coming back … that he could not come back, even if he was so close,” said Iqbal.

“All his life was shaped by this proximity to the border that he could not go through.”

Iqbal remembers having seen bombings take place in Syria from the border. His friend could not do anything for his family and friends just 20 minutes away. Now, this friend sends a message to Iqbal every time he crosses the border, which is not taken for granted.

Rebuild his hometown

Iqbal said that he had seen many videos of individuals like Tomeh whose return to relatives “immediately became a period of new mourning.”

“What does it mean to go home, where even if your house is still standing, it’s right next to a world that has been transformed into rubble?”

Tomeh said he wanted to help, even if it is in a little way.

His old cheese factory is already being reconstructed, he said.

“I want to open an opportunity for people, for my family,” he said, adding that he had reconnected with former employees who are looking for work.

Tomeh wants to help contribute to the economy and the reconstruction of his hometown and hopes to obtain visits from his Canadian friends.

“I hope they meet people there. The Syrians are very nice.”

Tomeh hopes to stay in his hometown for the moment, but does not intend to move there permanently.

He is deeply grateful to the community of Hamilton that he loves and appreciates having supported him through ups and downs.

“Sometimes my business is very slow. I don’t earn much money sometimes, but I’m very happy with people, with my community. You know why? Because (these are) nice people,” said Tomeh.

“They respect (us). I feel very happy when I see that whoever comes and sit in my business.”