'Assad's fall means I can visit my mum's grave'

A Syrian refugee has told how the recent regime change in the troubled country means he can return to visit the grave of his mother after missing the final years of her life.

Jehad Rached settled with his wife and son in Preston, Lancashire, more than a decade ago after fleeing the region during violent conflicts.

The regime of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad collapsed on Sunday after opposition forces took control.

Mr Rached said: "I feel congratulations for all of the Syrian people. We have had enough of war."

He added: "I lost my mum, a lot of families lost children, a dad, an uncle or a business for 14 years of war - for what? A million people killed."

Mr Rached, who set up his own tailoring business in the city, where his second child was born, thanked the British people for accepting him.

The 40-year-old, originally from Aleppo, told BBC Radio Lancashire: "It was very difficult for Syrians.

"Even me for example, I can go everywhere because I am now British, I can book tickets and fly everywhere in this world but I could not go to Syria because of Assad.

"I never saw my mum, even last year when I went to Turkey I could not go to visit my mum who was sick and she passed away 11 months ago.

"When I go back I will go straight to her grave and pray for her."

Mr Rached, who has been in daily contact with his family in Syria, said: "We want peace, we want democracy and good government.

The tailor, who made scrubs for local medics during the Covid lockdowns, said: "I need to say big thanks for the UK, for Lancashire, for the British people, for the UK government.

"Because you brought me nine-and-a-half years ago to Preston and I built my business. Thank you is not enough for British people."

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