Syria before the uprising (part 2)

I've put together some images of Syria in the years before the uprising. While some may be familiar hopefully there are a more than a few you've never seen before.  Here's a look at Syria's wallpaper.

Lionised and loathed

"Assad Love" used to be Syria's most popular sport (after backgammon of course) but obviously not through choice. With informers on every corner you'd better hang your Assad picture where everyone can see it or you leave yourself in danger of being called a "zionist traitor", by anyone with a grudge against you. It's not any exaggeration to say that many Syrians live in constant fear that Assad's secret police coming might knock on their door at any time. Sleepless nights are common but I didn't have that problem as I always slept in my Assad pyjamas. If you thought you knew everything about 1930s style 'cult of the leader' iconography, please read on.

I took this picture within minutes of arriving in Damascus for the first time, and was promptly ushered in to what I soon discovered was a police station. I'd heard pictures of the president and his Dad were everywhere but I got excited when I saw them both together. As soon as I clicked the button I noticed the soldier in his 'soldier box', and he noticed me. I did what anyone would do in this situation,  I started walking and pretended that none of it had happened, and that I didn't know the soldiers following me and shouting, were in fact shouting at me. The fact remains though, not many people have this picture. 

I'm probably the only person to have exited a Syrian police station without a beating or paying 500 lira in the form of
a  handshake

The unwritten rule of the regime is: if in doubt just make the poster or the flag as big as possible. If you can stick next to a historic citadel, all the better.

If I was really low on confidence, I might believe this

I'm not sure if this followup is genius or just laziness. 

Even if I was really low on confidence, I wouldn't fall for it again

No need for elections in Syria when popularity is clear for all to see.

If this is the standard of Assad's graphic design team, I'd fancy my chances getting a job 

Deir Ezour may look like a forgotten ghost town from a horror film but "we are with you"nonetheless.

Never mind about the state of the roads, buildings and public services the most important thing in every town is the posters.

This is the bedroom of a seventeen-year-old boy. The juxtoposition of the children's toys and the shrine to Basil Al Assad makes this the most disturbing scene I have ever witnessed in my life.

Just in csae you missed it this kid was seventeen !

When you've plastered Assad pictures over your house and the place you work why not stick him to a nearby wall.

Just in case you've forgotten who's in charge

Assad's happy smiling face endorsing your tours. This is a marketing man's dream.

Take a tour across Syria and get make new friends with the nice men who will follow you everywhere you go and appear in every hotel stay in

The (lion) king is dead but long live the king

Fading but not forgotten, in the forgotten outposts of Syria

I was told by security not to take a picture of this. This is the best of the three.

I find stencil Assads irresistible 

Basil is to stallions as Bashar is to My Little Pony

Groomed to be president

I was repeatedly assured by rich Damascans (who'd never been out of Damascus) that Syria was "not a poor country" . With so much money to spend on magnificent structures like this I now feel very stupid.

The Syrian Baath party was founded on two defining principles: the eagle and the lion.

The 'mosaic' movement lies somewhere between the 'neo-classical' and 'modernist' movements of Assad art.

The man who drew the president with oversized hands was summarily executed, and rightly so

Got a fire? Why not call the Assad fire brigade.

Non-Assad endorsed firemen are 35% less efficient, according to the Ministry of fire and truth

After Bab Alhara "Assad your ride" is probably Syria's favourite TV programme

Windscreen Assad

Being able to reverse park with a "rear windscreen Assad" is part of the new Syrian driving test