Surviving Assad’s Prisons
Her name is Abeer. She is from Maarat al-Numan, and this is the story of the torment she suffered while detained by the Syrian...
The Truce that Never Was
On Sunday morning, December 20, 2015, Russian military aircraft committed a massacre in my beloved city Idlib. Various media outlets reported that more than...
A Dream of Going Home
It was the summer of 2015, and the Turkish government had just announced that it would open its borders with Syria during the Eid...
“She Gave Me Strength”
Homs joined the Syrian revolution three days after the non-violent demonstrations began in the city of Daraa. On March 18, 2011, protesters filled the...
The Birth of A New Hope
My first baby was almost due, and I had just been to see the doctor for a final examination. I was so exhausted and...
Voting for Assad
It was 2014 and Syria’s presidential elections day was approaching, but many of the residents of Idlib couldn’t figure out what to do. “It’s...
Clusterbombs on a Wedding Day
“The wedding should be held after nightfall,” my mother said. “The darkness will keep us safe.” “No,” replied my father. “Driving during the...
The Liberated Women of Idlib
The significant role Idlib’s most devout women played serving the Syrian revolution is one I will never forget. These veiled women were fondly known...
The Sound of War
The sounds of the bombardment of my hometown of Dael differed according to whether it was night and by day. First came the intense...
At the Mercy of A Sniper
As I stepped out of my house in Jisr al-Abyad neighbourhood early in the morning of June 17, 2012, I felt light with optimism....
The Martyr Who Lived
The annals of the Syrian revolution are rich with tales of heroes, but the most heroic one I know is that of my brother...
When There is No Place to Hide
Sabah and her family left their home in Kfar Nbuda in a daze. The government had given residents 24 hours to get out, and...
Tales of the Revolution’s Heartbreak
My family and I fled Syria on January 24, 2012. Too many of us had already been arrested and it was no longer safe....
Displaced, Again and Again
I will never forget the day my brother Yousef was arrested – January 22, 2012 – and the events that followed. Seven government soldiers...
The Happiest Day of My Life
Night had fallen and the bombing was over. I sat in the dark waiting for my fiance Fuad. We had been engaged for over...
Flogged by the Islamic State
My father is a devout Muslim who has visited Saudi Arabia several times to perform the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages in the holy city...
