A man's dream since childhood comes true as his father, who was one of Syria's longest-held political prisoners, is finally released.

Waill Tatari was overwhelmed with emotion as he spoke about finally being able to talk to his father, who had been imprisoned in Syria for more than 40 years. His father, Ragheed al-Tatari, a former Syrian Air Force pilot, was recently released from Tartou prison after the rebel takeover of the government. Waill, now 43 and living in Canada, had been waiting for this moment since he was a child, when his father was first arrested in 1980. He had been living with the hope of his father's release, despite multiple false rumors over the years.

Waill shared how he cried tears of joy after a brief phone call with his father, who was now a free man after decades behind bars. He described the call as a surreal experience, finally being able to talk to his dad after so many years. His father apologized for the noise and promised to call back when it was quieter. Waill is still eagerly waiting for that call.

The news of his father's release came as a surprise to Waill, who had heard false rumors in the past. He was struck by the simple joy of his father going out to have breakfast near a beach in Tartou, something that most people take for granted but was a significant moment for his family. Waill's mother, Salma Mousa, was pregnant with him when his father was first arrested. He has never known a life where his father was not imprisoned.

Ragheed's release was part of a larger effort to free political prisoners from various jails across Syria, including the notorious Sednaya prison where torture and executions were common. The last time Waill spoke to his father was eight years ago, when they both called a landline in Syria and struggled to hear each other. Waill had to leave Syria in 2013 after receiving death threats due to his involvement in the anti-Assad movement. He had only seen his father once since then, in 2013 when he was allowed to visit him in jail.

Waill is hopeful that he will be able to reunite with his father soon, as his lawyer is currently working on his release. The news of his father's freedom was both exciting and scary for Waill, as he is unsure of what the future holds for Syria. But he is grateful that his father is finally free and is looking forward to hearing his firsthand account of his experiences. Ragheed's imprisonment was due to his refusal to follow the orders of the Assad regime, and Waill hopes that his father's story will inspire others to stand up for their beliefs.

As the country continues to rebuild after the fall of the Assad regime, Waill and his family are waiting to see what the future holds. He is happy that his father is finally free, and despite the uncertainty, he believes that it is a step towards a better future for Syria.

[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]