Following the devastating earthquake that struck southern Turkey and northern Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appeared grim to accompany the disastrous earthquake harvest, while laughter and taking pictures dominated the visit of his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, to the city of Aleppo.
And the program “Above the Power” (17/2/2023) continued the paradox in the Turkish and Syrian presidents’ dealings with the devastating earthquake, as Erdogan was frowning, moving between the plane, the car, and the meeting rooms. Relief and reconstruction programmes.
As for the Syrian president, he appeared during his visit to the city of Aleppo after the earthquake, taking "selfie" pictures and laughing spontaneously, as some clips showed ululation and smiles welcoming his presence and hugging with his supporters.
And to the ears of the bereaved, Bashar declared after 120 hours that the areas whose lands were shaken by earthquakes were afflicted.
Supporters of the Syrian regime defended criticism of Assad's laughter and smiles, in exchange for the features of sadness that did not leave Erdogan's face with two contradictory statements.
Why does not Bashar smile?
Supporters justified that all the videos and pictures of smiles and laughter in which Bashar appeared were fabricated. As for the second fact, they asked: Why does Bashar not smile?
They consider that Erdogan's grief is just a representation because the election date is not far away. As for them, they elected Assad forever, and they also considered that smiling is a kind of consolation.
On the other hand, the commander of the Quds Force in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Ismail Qani, preceded al-Assad by visiting Aleppo and Latakia, and signs of a complete grimace appeared on his face when he saw what was left of the earthquake.
In a reading of the supporters of the Syrian regime, they considered that the sudden visit of the commander of the Quds Force, who preceded Bashar in his visit to Aleppo, proves that this geographical area is of great importance to Iran, not to Assad.
They also put forward another vision through which they see that Assad's enemies are jealous of him, as he visits stricken Aleppo and does not announce any relief or reconstruction plan, and although electricity is cut off in Aleppo, it has become "illuminated" by Assad's visit and is no longer afflicted.
It is noteworthy that the Syrian President's tour of Aleppo was also an occasion to thank the commander of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces, nicknamed "Abi Fadak" for the role of his forces in the battles of Aleppo.