Raqa - To fast or not to fast? For the first time in years, Syrians in Raqa can choose to observe a relaxed Ramadan, without the rigid regulations imposed by Daesh and their religious police.
"We are free to fast or not," says Ahmad Hussein, a resident of the northern Syrian city that was the inner sanctum of Daesh self styled "caliphate."
"We used to fast in fear, but now it's out of faith," the stonemason tells AFP.
For more than three years, residents of Raqa were subjected to Daesh ultra-strict interpretation of Islamic law - particularly stringent during the holy month of Ramadan.
Muslims around the world fast from dawn until dusk, but in Daesh territory, anyone caught eating or drinking water was subject to draconian punishments.
"Those that didn't fast were locked in an iron cage in a public square, under the sun and in front of everyone, to serve as an example," recalls Hussein, in his forties.
A US-backed offensive ousted Daesh from Raqa in October, after months of clashes and bombardment that left much of the city in ruins and littered with explosives.
Still, tens of thousands have cautiously returned to their homes and marked the start last week of what they hoped would be a more festive Ramadan.
Syrians in Raqa can choose to observe a relaxed Ramadan, without the rigid regulations imposed by the Islamic State group
Hussein says he will observe the day-long fast, but is excited to resume one custom in particular: gathering around the television with his family to watch month-long drama series aired specially during Ramadan.
Daesh had clamped down on satellite dishes and any form of entertainment seen as contrary to religion.
"We missed these Ramadan traditions. For four years under ISIS, we were banned from watching these series," Hussein tells AFP.
