Tariq

Death
During the mass protests that accompanied the collapse of the Assad regime in 2024, Tariq participated in demonstrations and clashes in central Damascus. While riding atop a truck, chanting slogans and inciting violence, he heard gunfire and attempted to flee with other protesters. In the ensuing panic, he slipped and fell into the crowd, where he was trampled and suffered severe crush injuries. Emergency services pronounced him dead; his death was recorded among the numerous casualties of that day's unrest.

Afterlife
In Pripyat, Tariq struggles to adapt to the bureaucratic environment. His extremist ideology and reactionary ideas clash sharply with the city's diverse population, whose residents come from all over the world. He frequently attends Carrie's rehabilitation class, though his progress is hampered by his refusal to abandon his convictions.

Tariq frequently clashes with others over issues of religion, politics, and cultural practices, unable to reconcile his unwavering faith with the reality of purgatory. Despite tangible evidence of life after death and the existence of a bureaucracy independent of religion, Tariq insists on the supremacy of Islam and Allah. His presence in Pripyat creates tension, making him one of the city's most troublesome residents.

Personality
Exalted
Extremist
Cynical
Exalted
Comic relief
Disgusting
Tariq is volatile, hostile, and deeply entrenched in extremist thought. He considers all sovereignty and government illegitimate and denounces every elected official as an imposter deserving of death. He remains fiercely loyal to his beliefs, showing little interest in compromise or dialogue. His worldview is marked by anger, resentment, and an unwavering sense of divine justice.

He is also a misogynist, believing that women are submissive and unworthy of leadership positions. His rigidity and irascible nature make him difficult to interact with, and in Pripyat he frequently clashes with residents who question his ideology or lifestyle. His loyalty to Islam and Allah is absolute, to the point of preventing him from acknowledging perspectives outside his narrow worldview.

Background
Tariq was born and raised in Damascus into a family mired in extreme poverty. Growing up amidst scarcity and political repression, he gravitated toward conservative religious communities that offered an explanation for social injustice. He trained and worked as a construction worker, a low-status, physically demanding occupation that provided him with a meager income and the flexibility to participate in street demonstrations. Over time, his religious conservatism transformed into a radical and uncompromising stance.

As his activism intensified, Tariq established contacts with individuals and small cells. Subsequently, authorities and some opposition sources alleged that he helped organize the logistics of the protests—transporting supplies, coordinating small groups, and establishing meeting points—with the aim of creating situations that would allow him to confront security personnel. These accusations form part of his record during the uprising that culminated in 2024.