The Islamist junta which overthrew Syrian dictator Bashar Assad in December 2024 took the unusual step of allowing a Halloween party in Damascus on Friday.

The event was a somewhat awkward affair, especially after the midnight curfew arrived, and partygoers began worrying that security forces might kick in the doors at any moment.

Attendees at the Friday night rave compared it to a high-school dance party, with a generally “nervous” mood, which was not improved when the power failed twice.

“Only about half of the expected 150 attendees showed up, leaving awkward gaps on the dance floor, a rented space atop a three-floor shopping complex on the outskirts of the Syrian capital. Whisky, vodka, and beer were served in plastic cups from a small bar,” Canada’s Globe and Mail reported

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