&gt; Things like a Secular government are new concepts to them<p>I don&#x27;t think a secular government is a new concept for Syrians or Iraqis. Saudis, Afghans? Sure. But Syria and Iraq have been under secular governments pretty much since the fifties.<p>Now living in an open, liberal society like those in Western Europe is a different thing altogether, but for educated Syrians it&#x27;s not an impossible endeavour. I think most of those actually making it to Germany&#x2F;Sweden&#x2F;etc. are from the most &quot;modern&quot; parts of society, as the less educated and poorer ones are pretty much stuck in Liban or Turkey