On May 2, friends and relatives from America frantically called us as we struggled for a good night's sleep. There was news that Osama bin Laden was killed.

The Arabs switched on television sets which showed scenes of jubilations in Washington on television screens with red tickers announcing the latest American feat.

"Tonight, I can report to the people of the United States and the world, the United States had carried an operation that has killed Osama Bin Laden, a terrorist responsible for killing thousands of innocent people," most news channel replayed US President Barack Hussain Obama’s statement over and over again.

Osama bin Laden has been the world's most dreaded iconic figure, after Adolf Hitler. The German dictator's death remained a mystery while Osama's life was. In a bizarre similarity with spectacular images of jetliners crashing into the World Trade Center, four helicopters conducted a sting operation deep inside Pakistan to pluck the reclusive al-Qaeda mastermind.

For the Middle East, busy in overthrowing tyrannical regimes usurping the rights and wealth of the people for decades, Osama's death seems like an interruption.

“The only thought that came to my mind was about its implications for our region which is awakening to democracy and civil rights,” Amal Ramadan says from Cairo, Egypt. This young girl along with million other Arabs has opted a course 180 degrees opposite to Osama's.

In the late 1990s, bin Laden, himself a billionaire, touted the Arab leaders as agents of America who bargained dignity for selfish goals. Not many disagreed in Syria and Egypt or elsewhere in the Middle East with such a conclusion. The problems emerged when he chose to demolish these kingdoms and dictatorships through use of forces. From Nairobi and Morocco to Saudi Arabia and Yemen, blood was spilled in the name of anti-Americanism.

Cunning Middle Eastern rulers had sent these Arab Islamists to Afghanistan in a bid to get rid of opposing voices. The guerrilla-war in Afghanistan showed little chances of success in the early and mid-80s. By the time, the Soviets withdrew; divided mujahedeen were posed with newer challenges. The Arab militants preferred to fight on till an Islamic state was formed.

The challenge terrorism posed and suffered in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and Morocco was never foreseen by the self-styled leaders here. Osama united the entire Middle East while the public suffered under the weight of draconian policies adopted against their legitimate needs.

With his death, Saudi Arabia and many Arab rulers have heaved a sigh of relief. The comfort is temporary as they are witnessing and struggling against popular public uprisings.

Osama's death coincides with the demise of oppression and pessimism in the Arab world. The Arab spring is anti-thesis of what the Arab militant stood for. His death has shocked many Arabs too but most are really relieved for he brought insecurity and stereotyping to their ways of life and homes.

For the Middle East, the public uprising continues to be the headline. Osama's death understandably means much for United States, its western allies and of course Pakistan, which is caught between the crossfire for the last three decades.

Without any distraction, the Syrian government has arrested many at the airports who were either thought to have returned to participate in protests or had spoken against the regime in conferences abroad.

According to Radwan El-Sayed, Professor of Islamic Studies in Lebanon, "Osama bin Laden recently became part of image of tyranny in the Arab world along with Bashar al-Assad, Hosni Mubarak and Muammar Qadhafi.”

On the other hand, there are still some who carry soft corner for him. Montaser al-Zayat, an Egyptian writer, says, "Osama bin Laden turned into a martyr in various parts of the world, he is an icon in the hearts of the fans . . . We don't have to prosecute Osama bin Laden on the day of his death."

Despite the fact that Osama bin Laden was considered to be a hero in some Arab tribes for his voice against the American hegemony, no one can forget that the same man brought death and destruction to many people in Iraq over the years.

He was killed at a time, when the oppressed Arabs are turning a new page in democratic struggle using most modern and peaceful tools like Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

The fear of backlash and hijacking of Arab spring are the worst fears within various strata of opinion worldwide. Washington worries that the al-Qaeda sleeper cells in Middle East may organise themselves for revenge and either hijack the uprisings or attack their interests. On the other hand, Arabs feel that the worst consequence his death could have is renewed western intervention in struggles that are very indigenous, popular and nationalistic.

One does not rule out possibility of some desperate attempts to attack western or American targets in the Middle East, however, the fruits would be hard to reap. The public acceptance for militancy would be very low given a better more fruit-oriented struggle already in its full swing. The worst case scenario of backlash might be visible in restive regions like Libya, Yemen and Bahrain.

Osama has surely affected the Arab spring too. The media is no more looking into clandestine operations by the Syrian troops in Daraa, Duma and Latakia, on the one hand the brutalities of Saudi forces in Bahrain where predominant majority Shi’ite population refused to be impressed with might.

As Dakhirl Khlifa, a well-known writer for Kuwait, says, "The killing of bin Laden now is closure of eyes of (the world) from crimes of the Syrian regime against innocent the country’s innocent people . . . As of today, he would be committing massacres but the world would be busy following bin Laden."

The writer is a young journalist and social media activist whose family struggled against Hafiz Al-Assad’s tyrannical rule and policies.