بواسطة Katty Alhayek | يوليو 20, 2020 | Cost of War, Culture, غير مصنف
*This article was originally published by the LSE Conflict Research Programme blog.
Since 2011, media has played a significant role in the Syrian conflict, which started as a peaceful uprising, then escalated into a violent civil war resulting in the largest refugee and displacement crisis in the world. Mass media played a negative role, acting as a driver of the Syrian conflict by inciting violence, hate speech, and sectarianism. In this article, I focus on successful alternative media interventions that challenge the violent, stereotypical discourse dominant in mass media. As part of a larger research project, I examine, as a case study, the discourse surrounding the Syrian television drama series Ghadan Naltaqi (GN) [We’ll Meet Tomorrow] which generated an exemplary dialogue between the forcibly displaced segment of its audience and the writer/creator of the show, Iyad Abou Chamat. I consider GN as an alternative media intervention because it provides a case where media creators help displaced people both to mitigate the traumatic effects of a highly polarising conflict, and to find a healing space from violent and alienating dominant media discourses.
The context of Syrian media
Before the war, Syrian media was known for its successes in regard to the Syrian drama industry, and for its failure in term of news and public affairs programming (Kraidy, 2006). However, this has changed rapidly with the emergence, since 2011, of new, alternative online spaces reporting new political perspectives (Wall and El Zahed, 2015). Regardless of these new spaces, it is widely argued that the media interventions that addressed general Syrian audiences from different political opinions were rare throughout the years of the war. Syrian TV dramas were the best medium to expose structural inequalities and the corruption of the ruling social and economic elites (Salamandra, 2011). After the war, several new challenges would face the Syrian media sector, including the television drama industry. Challenges, such as the departure of the most qualified drama makers from Syria and the severe decrease in production budgets of drama serials inside the country have negatively affected the quality of the final products, resulting in many drama series that escape from reality through the genre of soap opera. And yet, the cultural production environment of Syrian drama after the “Arab Spring” and the Syrian war has new, positive margins supporting drama that explicitly tackles the current political events in Syria and the Arab region. A representative example is Ghadan Naltaqi (GN) which ran during Ramadan in the summer of 2015. It is particularly interesting because it provides a case where Syrian TV audiences used Facebook as a space to engage with the producer of the show that undertook representation of displaced Syrians experiences.
Production and broadcast of Ghadan Naltaqi (GN)
Ghadan Naltaqi (GN) focuses on the daily lived experiences of a group of displaced Syrians who rent separate rooms in one modest building in Lebanon. The group is composed of individuals coming from different social positions in pre-war Syria, and represent diverse political views vis-à-vis the conflict. The show depicts many of the political, economic and cultural challenges that face Syrian refugees who live in neighbouring countries such as Lebanon. The series received positive reviews from Arab critics and audiences, and it was awarded the 2015 Best Comprehensive Drama series of the Year – shared with The Godfather-East Club – by the Television and Radio Mondiale in Egypt (Alaraby Aljadid 2015).
The show also generated controversy over gender-related themes and scenes around sexuality and virginity, which resulted in the decision of Arab TV stations such as Abu Dhabi Al Emarat TV to delete such scenes from broadcast because they did not fit with their censorship standards. However, an uncensored version of the series in high definition, was uploaded by the series production company ‘Clacket Media Productions,’ and is available on YouTube free of charge. The availability of GN on YouTube provided broader access to Syrian audiences around the world who had no other way to watch the series.
Censoring the content that tackles sexuality from the series angered some Syrian critics (such as Brksiah, 2015) because that omits new experiences of personal freedom many refugees encounter once they move out of their traditional, conservative communities inside Syria. Indeed, one of GN contributions – to the representation of gender issues in Arab media – is showing the agency of refugee women and the new margins of freedom that displacement offers for women to explore newfound bodily pleasures.
Audiences experiences and communication needs
As a coping mechanism with displacement, watching Syrian TV drama serials provided Syrian audiences with ways to connect with family, friends, and other displaced Syrians all over the world. From pre-war life in Syria, the ritual of watching TV drama serials during Ramadan–with the rest of the family members–was a common family tradition that constructed shared memories between Syrians. Separated by borders and racist politics since 2011, watching Ramadan TV serials and discussing them online with family members, friends, and other diasporic Syrians became a continuation of that nostalgic tradition.
To explore Syrian audiences’ experiences with media texts that tackles the war and the refugee crisis, I interviewed the writer/creator of GN Iyad Abou Chamat and 25 members of his audience who friended him on Facebook after GN aired. Some of these interviewees reside inside Syria and others live in countries like Germany, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, France, Dubai, Morocco, and the United States. The particularity of the Syrian war-related topic in GN and its applicability to both the creator of the series, as well as to audiences’ lived experiences evoked a significant level of online participation with Chamat. He assured me that the series was inspired in many ways by his real-world experience. In 2012, he fled Syria, due to the ongoing war, to Lebanon. Then he travelled to France, a country where, in 1996, he had received post-graduate training in scenography after he graduated from the Higher Institute for Dramatic Arts in Damascus, Syria.
GN fulfilled Syrian audiences’ communication needs to be represented in the media in a way that resembles the reality of the war and its complexity. For instance, Reem (female, resides inside Syria) said: ‘The series, for me, is my voice, my opinion, my ideas. It is everything that is going on in my head and my heart about what is happening in Syria. The series described what is happening in a very professional and honest way.’ Additionally, Syrian audiences who engaged with GN and its writer/creator identified with the represented experiences of the series’ characters. Most interviewees identified with the whole represented lived experiences of the series’ characters and preferred not to name any particular character as the one that they identify with the most. However, several interviewees named Jaber as the character that they identify with the most. The reason is because Jaber (regardless of his political positions as supporter of the Syrian regime) is the character that deals the most with the challenges of displacement and transferring from a middle-class lifestyle in Syria to an impoverished lifestyle in Lebanon. Unlike his brother Mahmood, who is a poet, and Wardeh, who continues her on-demand job in bathing the deceased, Jaber came to Lebanon after he lost everything in the war including his small shop. Thus, Jaber’s storyline focuses on his search for any job while he finds a way to emigrate to Europe. The following comment explains the reason behind some participant audiences’ identification with Jaber: “Ghadan Naltaqi represented the suffering of every Syrian inside and outside the country. I saw myself in the suffering of Jaber while he was searching for a job, while he was wandering the street selling CDs in order to live with dignity not needing anyone.” (Ibrahim, male, resides in undisclosed place outside Syria).
Syrian audiences used Facebook as a platform for pedagogical exchange with TV drama creators. Like in live theater where, after the performance, audiences may be able to approach the cast to inquire about certain scenes and storylines, after each episode GN’s audiences were able to communicate with Chamat to praise, critique or clarify some aspects of the series’ narratives. GN audiences’ online participation with Chamat is also motivated by recognising and admiring Chamat’s political intervention and reading of the Syrian conflict through the text’s symbolism. Joubin (2013) argues that Syrian drama creators use metaphors of love, marriage, and gender (de)constructions indirectly to challenge and explore larger issues of political critique, nationalism, government oppression, and corruption. My research supports Joubin’s argument.
Chamat confirmed that the main storyline in his series – about the love triangle between Wardeh and two brothers Jaber and Mahmood (who reside next to Wardeh’s room in the same Lebanese school building that was turned into a refugee location for Syrians who rent separate rooms) – is a metaphor of the Syrian war. Wardeh is a symbol of Syria, Jaber is a symbol of the Syrian regime, and Mahmood is a symbol of the Syrian opposition. Chamat clarified this point: ‘…this symbolism was explicit and implicit. The audience figured out quickly this symbolism and they dealt with Wardeh in a real way as if she was Syria.’ Chamat admits to having a larger pedagogical message in his series: ‘Today there is a complete political failure in tackling the Syrian war; therefore, I depend on art to speak to Syrian people’s consciences. Art is very important when politics fail.’ Several audience members explain this symbolism by referring to a scene from Episode 26 where Jaber and Mahmood fought in Wardeh’s room over who loves her and deserves her more, which accidentally causes the burning of the room. Batoul (female, resides inside Syria) said: ‘the most amazing scene was the fire scene in Wardeh’s room because this scene summarised the years of the Syrian crisis. The two brothers burnt the room of the girl who they both loved.’
Salamandra (2011) notes that Syrian drama creators, before the current war, were known for confronting audiences with the consequences of corruption and neoliberal policies by using ‘stark social realism’ (285). After the war, GN symbolises, for Syrian audiences, a continuity of this respected tradition of Syrian art and culture that reflects and critiques the power structures of their society. Zeno (2017) demonstrates that refugees’ experiences are dominated by feelings of loss and humiliation; thus, it is important for them to find cultural references that invoke a sense of dignity and pride to cope with their displacement. Based on that, GN served as a source of national pride motivating audiences to participate online and engage with Chamat and his show. Interviewees reported feeling national pride because of the series’ success in globally representing the experiences and stories of real-world people like them who suffer from and survive through the Syrian war.
In sum, GN functioned as an entertainment intervention that provided displaced Syrians with scripts to interpret their nostalgic past in Syria, their painful present in the diaspora, and their hopeful future that contains newfound freedom. Interviewees’ perspectives show that the main intervention of drama serials like GN is complicating news media narratives about the Syrian conflict by representing diverse, complex characters and storylines that resemble the lived experiences of audiences in contrast to the news media that is either ideological or stereotypical or both (Alhayek, 2014). One particular strategy that GN’s team used was to choose famous actors who are known for supporting or opposing the Syrian government and assign them opposite political positions in the show. Syrian audiences saw and appreciated this strategy as an intervention to encourage audiences to listen to the opposite political views from their own and to acknowledge that no political side is solely responsible for the destruction of Syria.
بواسطة Syria in a Week Editors | سبتمبر 5, 2018 | Media Roundups, Syria in a Week
The following is a selection by our editors of significant weekly developments in Syria. Depending on events, each issue will include anywhere from four to eight briefs. This series is produced in both Arabic and English in partnership between Salon Syria and Jadaliyya. Suggestions and blurbs may be sent to info@salonsyria.com.
Idlib: The Race Between War and Settlement
28 August – 2 September 2018
Reuters
There were many appeals and warnings regarding the anticipated government attack on Idlib. On Sunday, Pope Francis appealed to all parties who have influence in Syria to protect opposition-held Idlib. “The winds of war are blowing and we are receiving troubling news about the risk of a possible humanitarian catastrophe in Syria, in the province of Idlib. I renew my heartfelt appeal to the international community and all the actors involved to use the tools of diplomacy, dialogue and negotiation to ensure the respect of international human rights and to safeguard civilian lives,” Francis said in his weekly blessing. (Reuters)
On Thursday, the UN called on Russia, Iran, and Turkey to avert a battle in Idlib which would affect millions of civilians and could see both militants and the government potentially use chlorine as a chemical weapon. More than a million Syrian children are at risk in case the Syrian army launches an attack on rebel-held Idlib governorate, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The agency has set up plans for providing clean water and food supplies for around seven hundred thousand potential refugees. An estimated 2.9 million people live in the northern region of Idlib, half of whom have been displaced from other areas in Syria as opposition supporters fled when government forces took over. (Reuters)
UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura called on the United States, Britain, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Germany, France, and Egypt to participate in talks scheduled on 14 September in Geneva, according to a UN spokesperson on Tuesday.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday that the United States considers any attack by the Syrian army on the rebel-held Idlib governorate as an escalation of the Syrian crisis, while the US State Department cautioned that Washington will retaliate in the event of a chemical attack by Damascus. The State Department said that the new US Special Representative for Syria James Jeffery would travel to the Middle East to underscore that “the United States will respond to any chemical weapons attack perpetrated by the Syrian government.” A spokeswoman for the German government said on Friday that Chancellor Angela Merkel expects the Kremlin to use its influence with the Syrian government to prevent a humanitarian crisis in the rebel-held northern region of Idlib. Merkel discussed the issue last week with both US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Reuters)
Turkey also expressed its concern over the potential attack on Idlib. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said last week that seeking a military solution in Idlib would be catastrophic and could lead to a new wave of refugees. A Turkish presidential decree published on Friday said that Turkey placed Tahrir al-Sham on its list of terrorist organizations. An implicit agreement between Turkey and Russia indicates that Tahrir al-Sham will be targeted in the anticipated attack.
On the other hand, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said on Thursday that government forces will go all the way in Idlib, and that the main objective of Damascus is Nusra fanatics. He said that Syrian forces would try to avoid civilian casualties. “We are taking the last step to end the crisis in our country and liberate all of our territory from terrorism,” said Muallem after talks with Lavrov in Moscow on Thursday. A source close to the Syrian government said that government forces are preparing a phased attack on Idlib governorate and surrounding areas in northwest of the country.
Russia has stepped up its military and media escalation in preparation for the attack on Idlib. The Russian defense ministry said that it would conduct large-scale military exercises in the Mediterranean on Saturday. The Kremlin said that failure to deal with the fanatics in the Syrian governorate of Idlib justifies this move. “This hotbed of terrorists (in Idlib) does really not bode anything good if such inaction continues,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. The Russian defense ministry said more than twenty-five warships and submarines and thirty planes, including fighter jets and strategic bombers, would take part in the Mediterranean drills which it said would take place from 1 to 8 September. They would involve anti-aircraft, anti-submarines, and anti-mining exercises.
Russia’s ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said that he told US officials this week that Russia is concerned by signs that the Unites States is preparing for new airstrikes against Syria and warned against “a groundless and illegal aggression against Syria.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday described militants in Syria’s last big rebel-held enclave of Idlib as a “festering abscess” that needed to be liquidated. He told reporters that there is a political understanding between Turkey and Russia on the need to distinguish between the Syrian opposition and people he described as terrorists in Idlib governorate. Moscow is discussing the situation in opposition-controlled Idlib governorate and the region of Afrin with Iran and Turkey as well as the government and the opposition, the Russian news agency reported the Russian Deputy Foreign Ministry Mikhail Bogdanov as saying on Wednesday.
The Russian army is carrying out talks with militant groups in opposition-held Idlib to reach a peaceful settlement, Russian news agency reported the Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu as saying on Tuesday. The objective of these talks is to reach a peaceful solution similar to the settlements reached in eastern Ghouta and Daraa, he added.
Which Settlement?
28 & 30 August 2018
Reuters
Talk of a political settlement continues side by side with the rhetoric of war. The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday that Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov discussed the options of a political settlement in Syria with Nasr al-Hariri, Head of the Negotiation Committee in the Syrian opposition. The statement said that the ministry stressed the need to establish dialogue between the Syrian government and the “constructive” opposition.
The United States will participate in UN-led talks in Geneva next month to discuss negotiations regarding a new constitution for Syria, an official in the US State Department said on Tuesday. “The United States has accepted the invitation by UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura to participate in the Geneva talks on 14 September,” the official added.
On Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to achieve peace and security in Iraqi and Syrian regions not under Turkish control, adding that terrorist organizations in those areas would be eliminated.
Return on Television?
27 & 28 August 2018
Reuters
Official media said that thousands of Syrians have begun to go back to Daryya on Tuesday for the first time since government forces recaptured it two years ago. The city was one of the main centers for the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad and suffered massive damage during the fighting, forcing most of its residents to flee. Civilians and militants who refused the settlement with the government were transferred through buses to opposition-held areas in the north, while others were transferred to government-controlled areas near the capital; the latter are most likely the ones returning to the city now.
The EU does not think that Syria is safe for refugees to return, an official in the European Union said in response to Russian efforts that seek the return of refugees to the war-torn country and the contribution of the international community in reconstruction projects. European foreign ministers are scheduled to discuss this issue later this month in Austria. EU officials predict that the bloc will stick to its position that it would not offer reconstruction money as long as President Bashar al-Assad does not let the opposition share power.
UNRWA and Trump’s Policy
31 August 2018
Reuters
The United States halted funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) saying that its business model and fiscal practices made it an “irredeemably flawed operation.” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said that “the administration has carefully reviewed the issue and determined that the United States will not make additional contributions to UNRWA.” The agency said it provides services to about five million Palestinian refugees, most of whom are descendants of people who fled Palestine during the 1948 war that led to the establishment of the state of “Israel”.
The UNRWA said that the US decision was a disappointment and surprising. It rejected US criticism that its programs are “irredeemably flawed”. UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness said that, “We reject in the strongest possible terms the criticism of UNRWA’s schools, health centers, and emergency assistance programs.”
Debate on Iranian Presence
28 & 31 August 2018
Reuters
Israeli defense minister said that Iran has slowed down its long-term deployment in Syria, attributing this to Israeli military intervention as well as an economic crisis gripping Tehran as US sanctions are restored. “The Iranians have reduced the scale of their activity in Syria,” he said, adding that there was “no activity at this stage” in Iranian efforts to build missile production factories on Syrian territory.
Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami visited Damascus on Tuesday and said that his country would maintain its presence in Syria. The two countries signed a defense pact that includes restoration of Syria’s military industry. He said that the pact confirms the support for the territorial integrity and independence of Syria, adding that it goes into effect the day it was signed. “In the eight-year war in Syria, factories of the defense ministry have been damaged and Iran will help reconstruct these factories,” he said.
Electric Short-circuit!
2 September 2018
Reuters
An official in the regional coalition supporting Damascus said on Sunday that the explosions heard in Mazzeh military airport near Damascus were a result of a missile attack and that Syrian air defenses responded to that attack. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the explosions were a result of an Israeli air strike that left a number of deaths and injuries.
However, Syrian official media said that the explosions, which were heard in the vicinity of Mazzeh military airport near Damascus early Sunday, were a result of an explosion in a weapons depot near the airport that was caused by an electric short-circuit. “A military source denied any Israeli attack on Mazzeh airport,” the Syrian news agency reported.
بواسطة Syria in a Week Editors | فبراير 5, 2018 | Media Roundups, Syria in a Week, غير مصنف
سوتشي ينتج لجنة دستورية برعاية أممية!
4 شباط (فبراير)
أثار “مؤتمر الحوار الوطني السوري” في مدينة سوتشي الكثير من الجدل حول أمكانية انعقاده ودوره في الوصول إلى مدخل لاتفاق سياسي.
اذ قاطع عدد من قوى المعارضة الاجتماع بما فيها “الهيئة العليا للمفاوضات”٫ وانسحب من المطار وفد من فصائل المعارضة المسلحة الذي حضر بـ “تشجيع” آنقرة وفوض الوفد التركي بتمثيله في المؤتمر. كما شارك المبعوث الأممي الخاص ستيفان دي ميستورا في المؤتمر. وانتقدت الولايات المتحدة وفرنسا المؤتمر وحضر بعضها بصفة مراقب. وظهر أن التوافق الروسي – التركي ساهم في عدم انفراط عقد المؤتمر.
خلص المؤتمر إلى اصدار بيان ركز على تأليف لجنة دستورية تتشكل من وفد الحكومة السورية ووفد معارض واسع التمثيل، ذلك بغرض صياغة إصلاح دستوري يسهم في التسوية السياسية وذلك وفقاً لقرار مجلس الأمن رقم 2254، وسيشرف دي ميستورا على اللجنة الدستورية. وركز البيان على أن “سوريا دولة ديمقراطية غير طائفية قائمة على المواطنة المتساوية”، مشدداً على استقلالِها ووحدتها شعباً وأرضاً. كما ركز البيان الختامي على القيام بانتخابات ديمقراطية حتى يقرر الشعب السوري مستقبل بلده.
وكانت الحكومة السورية قد رحبت بنتائج المؤتمر. وأشارت وزارة الخارجية أن المؤتمر يشكل خطوة هامة في المسار السياسي وأساساً لأي مفاوضات مقبلة. وبالرغم من مقاطعة “الهيئة العليا” للمؤتمر بسبب انحياز الجانب الروسي المشرف على المؤتمر لجانب النظام، بالإضافة للخشية من أنه محاولة للالتفاف على دور الأمم المتحدة في جنيف، فان رئيس “الهيئة” نصر الحريري رحب بمخرجات المؤتمر شريطة أن تتوافق مع قرار مجلس الأمن وضمان عملية الانتقال السياسي في سوريا.
بدا ان هناك تنسيقاً وثيقاً اذ عبر الرئيسان الروسي فلاديمير بوتين والتركي رجب طيب اردوغان عن رضاهما عن نتائج مؤتمر سوتشي في مكالمة هاتفية بينهما. وفي تناغم مع الموقف الروسي من التسوية في سورية، تراجعت تركيا عن إصرارها على رحيل الرئيس بشار الأسد، وأعلنت أن عليه الرحيل «في مرحلة ما»، مشددة على أولوية «انتقال سياسي» يؤدي إلى دستور جديد وانتخابات.
رويترز، الجزيرة، الشرق الأوسط، الحياة
“غصن الزيتون” غير الخاطفة
4 شباط (فبراير)
استمرت عملية “غضن الزيتون” التي تشنها تركيا بالتعاون مع فصائل في المعارضة السورية على منطقة عفرين التي تسيطر عليها “وحدات حماية الشعب” الكردية. ولا تبدو المعارك تسير إلى حسم سريع فالتقدم التركي بطيء ولا اختراقات كبرى حتى الآن. لكن العملية أدت حتى الآن إلى قتل المئات بينهم مدنيون بحسب وكالة انترفاكس. وذكر مدير المستشفى الرئيسي بمدينة عفرين الأربعاء إن الإمدادات آخذة في التناقص في المستشفى الذي استقبل 48 قتيلا و86 جريحا منذ بداية الهجمات. (رويترز)
وقال إردوغان إن الجيش التركي “بدأ السيطرة على الجبال… ويتقدم حالياً نحو عفرين”، في إشارة إلى قرب انتهاء العملية. وذكرت وكالة الأناضول للأنباء أنه بهذا الهجوم يبلغ عدد قتلى الجنود الأتراك سبعة السبت في إطار عملية “غصن الزيتون”. وبذلك ترتفع الحصيلة الاجمالية لخسائر الجيش التركي الى 14 قتيلا مما يشير إلى المواجهات الشرسة خلال العملية. (فرانس برس)
معركة سراقب… وإسقاط مقاتلة روسية
3 شباط (فبراير)
فرانس برس، الشرق الأوسط
تتقدم قوات النظام بشكل متسارع باتجاه مدينة سراقب حيث تمكنت القوات من السيطرة على مدينة أبو الضهور بعد السيطرة على المطار العسكري واتجهت نحو مدينة سراقب وسيطرت خلال الأيام القيلة الماضية على العديد من القرى والبلدات.
وتعرضت مدينة سراقب لقصف عنيف مما أدى إلى ضحايا بين المدنيين إضافة إلى استهداف مستشفى عدي في المدينة الأمر الذي أدانته الأمم المتحدة. وقال بانوس مومسيس منسق الشؤون الإنسانية الإقليمي للأمم المتحدة المعني بالأزمة السورية أن هذه كانت المرة الرابعة في عشرة أيام، التي تسببت فيها ضربات جوية في أضرار هيكلية كبيرة بمستشفى في سراقب. وأوضح مومسيس، أن العام الماضي شهد 112 هجوماً موثقا على منشآت صحية في سوريا، فضلا ًعن 13 هجوماً على الأقل حتى الآن خلال 2018.
في إطار هذه العملية، قُتل طيار روسي السبت بعدما اسقطت مقاتلته في محافظة ادلب شمال غربي سوريا، وإثر اشتباكه مع عناصر من الفصائل الاسلامية المعارضة على الأرض فيما أعلنت هيئة تحرير الشام مسؤوليتها عن إسقاط الطائرة. وأعلن الجيش الروسي اثر اسقاط المقاتلة انه قصف “بأسلحة فائقة الدقة” المنطقة التي سقطت فيها الطائرة مؤكدا انه قتل “اكثر من 30 مقاتلا من جبهة النصرة” خلال هذه الضربة.
“الكيماوي” مجدداً
3 شباط (فبراير)
(رويترز)
قال مسؤولون أميركيون بارزون يوم الخميس إن الحكومة السورية ربما تكون في مرحلة تطوير أنواع جديدة من الأسلحة الكيماوية وإن إدارة الرئيس دونالد ترامب مستعدة للقيام بعمل عسكري مجددا ضد قوات الحكومة السورية إذا اقتضت الضرورة لردعها عن استخدام هذه الأسلحة.
وقال وزير الدفاع الأمريكي جيم ماتيس إن الحكومة السورية استخدمت مراراً غاز الكلور كسلاح. وقبل ذلك بيوم قالت واشنطن إنها مستعدة لبحث اتخاذ إجراء عسكري إذا اقتضت الضرورة لردع الحكومة السورية عن شن هجمات بأسلحة كيماوية.
ونفت وزارة الخارجية السورية السبت اتهامات أمريكية بأن قواتها استخدمت أسلحة كيماوية في الغوطة الشرقية قرب دمشق ضد المعارضين الذين يسيطرون عليها قائلة إن الاتهامات أكاذيب لا دليل عليها. واتهمت موسكو واشنطن بالعمل لـ “شيطنة” دمشق و “افشال الحل السياسي”.
وكانت الإدارة الأميركية السابقة اعتبرت أن استخدام السلاح الكيماوي “خط أحمر”، وهددت بضربة عسكرية بعد استخدام السلاح الكيماوي في الغوطة 2013، ونجم عن الضغط تسليم السلاح الكيماوي السوري إلى منظمة حظر انتشار الأسلحة الكيماوية في عامي 2013 و2014. وتجدد قضية الكيماوي بعد استخدامه في خان شيخون وعلى إثرها قامت الإدارة الأمريكية الحالية بتوجيه ضربة عسكرية لمطار الشعيرات العسكري في حمص.
ويبدو ان “الخط الأحمر” يشمل فقط السارين وليس الكلور، بحسب مسؤول أميركي.
بواسطة Media Roundup Editors | أكتوبر 5, 2017 | Media Roundups
[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Syria and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Media Roundups Editors or of Salon Syria. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week’s roundup to info@SalonSyria.com by Monday night of every week.]
Inside Syria
Countryside Dwellers and City Dwellers… About the Syria that we Know very well (10 September 2017) “Munira says that countryside dwellers have started to feel they are proud of their belonging to their small towns and villages only after the revolution.”
As War Rages, Tabqa Schools Offer Hope to Syrian Children (12 September 2017) “Local officials face numerous challenges as they struggle to get students back into the education system while the war continues, but several Tabqa schools are set to reopen for Syrian children this week, just months after the city was liberated from ISIS.”
Hundreds of Isis defectors mass on Syrian border hoping to flee (12 September 2017) Several dozen former fighters have already crossed into southern Turkey in recent weeks as terror group loses territory.
Turkey deploys 80 military vehicles near Syrian border (17 September 2017) Deployment comes after Russia, Turkey, and Iran agreed to send ‘de-escalation’ forces to Syria in the coming weeks.
SOHR: Israeli warplanes hit near Damascus airport (22 September 2017) The air raids reportedly struck sites controlled by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, says UK-based activist group.
Syrians vote in Kurdish-led regions of north (22 September 2017) Syrians voted in an election organized by the Kurdish-led authorities of northern Syria, the start of a three-phase process to set up new governing institutions that aim to shore up regional autonomy.
Syria to consider granting Kurds greater autonomy (26 September 2017) Discussions on extended powers for Syrian Kurds to begin once Assad government defeats ISIL, foreign minister says.
British film-maker killed by Isis militants in Syria (27 September 2017) Mehmet Aksoy, from London, was working as a press officer for Kurdish forces in Raqqa when military base was attacked
Behind the story: Meet the journalists who risk the wrath of all sides to cover Syria’s south (27 September 2017) Five journalists, two from Suwayda province, two from Daraa and one from Quneitra, who cover the Syrian conflict on the ground at great personal risk share their stories and talk about challenges they faced.
Suwayda residents, citing weak government authority, turn anew to tribal laws to resolve civil, criminal matters(27 September 2017) “Residents of regime-held Suwayda province in Syria’s south are turning to centuries-old tribal practices to combat lawlessness, solve familial disputes and handle marriages in the absence of an effective civil authority, residents and local leaders on the ground tell Syria Direct.”
Joshua Landis: Syria on track ‘to go back to what we had before’ (28 September 2017) In this interview, Joshua Landis says that the way forward is an economy revitalized by regional transportation, trade routes and tourism.
‘New Baghdadi tape’ posted by Islamic State group (28 September 2017) Islamic State militants have released what appears to be an audio recording of their leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Rare Islamic State victory in rural Homs splits displaced families apart (2 October, 2017) If confirmed, the capture of Qaryatayn is a rare victory for IS as the group’s forces suffer major losses in eastern Syria’s Raqqa and Deir e-Zor provinces, amid separate campaigns by US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and the regime to eradicate the group from its remaining territory.
Deadly bombing hits Damascus police station (3 October, 2017) ‘Terrorist explosion’ in al-Midan area kills more than 10 people, including civilians and police, in continued violence.
Syrian Soldier Is Guilty of War Crime, a First in the 6-Year Conflict (3 October, 2017) “For the first time, six years into a war that began with Syria’s secret police accused of torturing teenagers and has escalated in brutality ever since, a member of the Syrian military has been convicted of a war crime.”
Regional and International Perspectives
The best weapon to de-radicalise Isis returnees? Our own humanity (15 September 2017) Extremists coming back from Syria must not be seen as one-dimensional, Bond-movie bad guys. Our task is to remember that perpetrators can be victims.
US funding cuts and the impact on Syrian refugee women (20 September 2017) How the US went from all to nothing at a maternity clinic in the world’s largest Syrian refugee camp.
Exclusive: Turkey to deploy troops inside Syria’s Idlib – Erdogan (22 September 2017) Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday Turkey will deploy troops in Syria’s northern Idlib region as part of a so-called de-escalation agreement brokered by Russia last month.
Has the Syrian opposition lost the war? (23 September 2017) Journalist Patrick Cockburn and Syrian American Council adviser Mohammed Ghanem offer differing views on the Syrian war.
Moscow clashes with EU over aid to Syria (23 September 2017) Russia clashed with the EU over Syria, accusing the bloc of politicizing aid by linking reconstruction funds to a political transition that would end the war.
Evicted Refugees in Lebanon Have Nowhere Left to Run (28 September 2017) Lebanon wants to evict 12,000 refugees who live near an air base where foreign military assistance is delivered. The evictions, which began in spring and recently resumed after a short respite, have left refugees more vulnerable amid rising demands they return to Syria.
Expert Views: Is Jordan Headed Toward Detente With Damascus? (29 September 2017) Syria Deeply’s expert community weighs in on a possible rapprochement between Amman and Damascus and the drive in some quarters for improved relations between the two states.
Do Russians care about Syria? (30 September 2017) Two years into the Russian intervention in Syria, we ask what Russians think of the war.
Saudi king heads to Russia, with oil, investment and Syria on agenda (3 October, 2017) The leaders of Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world’s biggest oil exporters, are expected to discuss cooperation on oil production and differences over Syria and Iran on Thursday during the first visit to Moscow by a reigning Saudi Monarch.
Policy and Reports
EU launches “Brussels process” for Syria, Mogherini announces at UNGA (21 September 2017) The EU is ready to contribute to the stabilisation and early recovery of areas where violence has decreased, and will hold a second conference on Syria in Spring 2018. In parallel, the EU continues to support the Geneva talks with the aim of a credible and inclusive agreement.
The socio-economic roots of Syria’s uprising (21 September 2017) While the outbreak of revolution in 2011 took many by surprise, the pre-conditions for such an upheaval had accumulated for decades.
German justice handed 27,000 images of ‘torture and killings by Assad regime’ (22 September 2017) More than 27,000 images of torture and killings allegedly perpetrated by the Assad regime in Syria have been handed to German prosecutors who are investigating possible abuses, a rights group said on Friday.
Intolerable Living Conditions in “al-Rukban Camp” on the Jordanian-Syrian Border (25 September 2017) “Tens of Thousands of Displaced Persons have Difficulty Accessing Potable Water and Health Care”
Syria: Coalition Airstrikes Killed Dozens Near Raqqa (25 September 2017) Human Rights Watch said in a report that two aerial attacks near Raqqa, Syria in March killed at least 84 civilians, including 30 children, and raise concerns that US-led coalition forces fighting the ISIS did not take adequate precautions to minimize civilian casualties.
Post-ISIS Governance in Jarablus: A Turkish-led Strategy (26 September 2017) Turkey’s capacity to ensure the sustainability of its successes against ISIS depends largely on improving governance in Jarablus.
Will the U.S. Abandon the Kurds of Syria Once ISIS is Destroyed? by Landis, Itani, Simon (1 October 2017) Joshua Landis, Faysal Itani, Steven Simon shares their perspectives on whether the United States would stand by the Kurds of north Syria once ISIS is destroyed.
Jordan: Syrian Refugees Being Summarily Deported (2 October 2017) Human Rights Watch said in a report that Jordanian authorities have been summarily deporting Syrian refugees – including collective expulsions of large families.
The Arabic version of this report can be found here: الأردن: ترحيل مستعجل للاجئين سوريين
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
Campfire songs in a war zone: Syria’s girl scouts earn their stripes (19 September 2017) Arabic could become the fourth official language of the world Girlguiding movement, as Syria’s girl scout network wins international recognition
We felt so lucky to foster a young refugee. Don’t let Parsons Green tarnish a proud tradition (20 September 2017) Fostering a teenager from Syria has been a privilege and given us a new perspective on our lives. I hope this horrific attack does not deter future carers.
Syrian opposition activist and her journalist daughter murdered in Turkey (22 September 2017) 60-year-old Orouba Barakat and 22-year-old daughter Halla were found overnight in their apartment in Istanbul’s Uskudar neighbourhood.
How One Syrian Fought to the Death for a Free Internet (27 September 2017) Della Ratta says. “We should take it very seriously when the international community is dealing with Bashar al-Assad like he’s not doing what he’s doing, which is killing his people and executing people like Bassel. It’s a very sad story but it deserves to be told. Otherwise an entire chapter of this situation in Syria will be lost.”
Fatal Attraction: The Islamic State’s Politics of Sentimentality (28 September 2017) “The ability of the Islamic State (IS) to gain virtual and literal ground in terms of recruitment throughout the world is very much linked to its politics of sentimentality.”
5 amazing ways #MeWeSyria is helping young Syrian refugees (1 October 2017) The work that #MeWeSyria is doing to support and facilitate young Syrians in telling their stories is a fundamental part of the effort to bridge the gap between educational and emotional needs.
The 13-year-old Syrian refugee who became a prizewinning poet (1 October 2017) A year after learning to speak English, Amineh Abou Kerech has won this year’s Betjeman prize. She tells us how she found her voice.
Review: ‘The Impossible Revolution’ in Syria (3 October 2017) Lebanese writer Joey Ayoub reviews Yassin Al-Haj Saleh’s The Impossible Revolution: Making Sense of the Syrian Tragedy.
Maps
Mapping the Battle Against ISIS in Deir Ezzor (26 September 2017) Syria Deeply examines the pitched battle for Deir Ezzor, including advances by both the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Assad government against the so-called Islamic State in the oil-rich province.
The city fit for no-one (26 September 2017) A collection of maps and visuals that shows aspects from inside Raqqa, the ruined ‘capital’ of the Islamic State group
Mapping out Syria’s remaining battles (26 September 2017) Battles intensify as fighting in Syria now focused on three key areas.
Syria’s civil war explained from the beginning (1 October, 2017) The Syrian civil war is the deadliest conflict the 21st century has witnessed so far.
Deir Azzour Tribal Mapping Project (2 October, 2017) Deir Azzour is in the strategic eastern region of the country, on the border with Iraq, and the governorate is approximately 500 kilometers (311 miles) from Damascus.
Arabic Links:
إصبعٌ على الكيبورد.. وآخرُ في عين الكارثة Ola Hosamow writes about the growing number of Syrian artists who use digital arts as an expression of the Syrian tragedy.
إزاحة رأس النظام السوري وتناقض التصريحات This article examines the contradictory statements made by Western officials towards whether Assad should stay in power or leave.
بعد اعتقال دام 4 سنوات ..”حازم الحريري” قتيلاً في سجون النظام Family of Hazim Alhariri was informed that Hazim (22 years old) was executed in 2014. Hazim was a Law school student at the University of Aleppo and a musician.
الوجود الكردي في سورية تاريخيًا واجتماعيًا Abdulbaset Sieda, a Kurdish-Syrian academic and politician, writes about the socio-historical existence of Kurds in Syria.
أغاني العرس الفلّاحي في العراق والشام Anas Al-Asaad analyzes peasant wedding songs in Syria and Iraq.
المثقف النذل Gassan Jebai criticizes Arab intellectuals who supported oppressive regimes against their own people.
نص المداخلة الشفهية لرئيس المركز السوري للإعلام وحرية التعبير مازن درويش، خلال جلسة “بناء أسس العدالة في سوريا” The intervention of Mazen Darwish, Director of the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM), “Accountability High Level Event” at the United Nations General Assembly, 72nd session
The English version of this article can be found: here.
إطلاق سراح لاعب سوري بعد وساطة من عمر السومة؟ Upon a personal request made by Syrian football player Omar Somah, Mohammad Kunis, a Syrian football player, was released from the regime’s prison.
حمودة صباغ .. رئيسا لمجلس الشعب السوري Hammouda Sabbagh was elected as the new Speaker of the People’s Council of Syria.
ما بعد السيطرة على جسد المرأة Jad Al Karim Jebaei criticizes the patriarchal structures and Arab/Islamic culture which control the body and deny individual freedom.
المرأة السورية ومنظمات المجتمع المدني! Syrian Women’s Network organized a workshop in Gaziantep to empower Syrian women.
لقاء مع مالك جندلي An interview with Malek Jandali, a Syrian-American pianist and composer.
14 الجاري.. “يوم الغضب السوري” في العالم Syrian activists call for “a day of rage” worldwide on October 14.
[This article is published jointly in partnership with Jadaliyya.]
بواسطة Media Roundup Editors | سبتمبر 30, 2017 | Media Roundups
[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Syria and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Media Roundups Editors or of Salon Syria. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week’s roundup to info@SalonSyria.com by Monday night of every week.]
Inside Syria
Seven Experts to Watch on De-Escalation Zones in Syria (August 31) Proposals to create safe zones inside Syria have been at the center of international diplomatic efforts in recent months. Syria Deeply highlights seven experts monitoring the proposals for safe zones in Syria and the foreign powers pushing for their creation.
How Jabhat al-Nusra Hijacked the Syrian Revolution (August 31) Battles between opposition groups in northern Syria have threatened the Syrian revolution and left Jabhat al-Nusra (now part of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham) in control of Aleppo and Idlib; how did that happen?
Baghdadi alive but coalition does not ‘have a clue’ where he is: US general (September 1) US-led coalition against IS claim that Baghdadi likely to be in hiding in border area between Iraq and Syria.
Idlib Local Councils Face Crisis of Trust Under Difficult Circumstances (September 3) There is no doubt that local councils have filled a huge gap following the retreat of the state. But there are still many obstacles that challenge their work, some stemming from limited support, others from the lack of experience, and from traditional and anti-democratic patterns of thought.
Militias and Crony Capitalism to Hamper Syria Reconstruction (September 4) Despite the small economic impact of the Fair and a mortar attack which resulted in several deaths and confirmed the fragility of the security situation, the regime’s message through the organization of Trade Fair to local, regional and international actors was clear: Asad is here to stay and this is the beginning of the Syria’s reconstruction period.
Holocaust Museum Pulls Study Absolving Obama Administration for Inaction in Face of Syrian Genocide (September 5) A major United States Holocaust Memorial Museum study of the Obama Administration’s Syria policy was put on hold … after portions of the study given to Tablet were greeted with shock and harsh criticism by prominent Jewish communal leaders and thinkers.
Syria forces behind Khan Sheikhoun gas attack: UN probe (September 6) Investigation also confirms that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons more than 20 times during the war.
Israeli airstrike targets Syrian military site as tensions rise (September 7) Syria accused Israel of bombing a military site that has been linked to the production of chemical weapons, as well as missiles bound for the Hezbollah militant group, marking an escalation of cross-border incursions by Israeli jets.
Aid trucks enter Deir e-Zor city for first time in three years (September 7) The regime victory earlier this week ended the siege of the western, and more populous quarter, allowing food and supplies to enter for the first time in more than three years. Roughly half of the city still remains occupied by the Islamic State.
ISIL holds 11,100 blank Syrian passports: report (September 10) German authorities fear the passports could be used to bring potential attackers into Europe, Bild am Sonntag reports.
In eastern Syria, fears of revenge killings, tribal clashes after defeat of Islamic State (September 13) In Deir e-Zor, IS is not merely an invading, alien force. Since conquering the oil-rich, eastern desert province in 2014, IS has successfully exploited the region’s tribal order, co-opting local tribes with cash, weapons and positions of authority.
Quneitra farmers lose sole income as regime tariffs upend fragile agricultural balance: ‘I haven’t even begun to harvest’ (September 13) Farmers in rebel-held parts of Syria’s Quneitra province say they are losing thousands of dollars since regime forces introduced a tariff on their produce in recent months, disrupting a fragile economic balance in place between government and opposition territory in the country’s far southwest.
To achieve ‘dream’ of education, woman regularly risks dangerous journey out of Islamic State territory(September 14) When Wilaa goes to class, she must travel from a town controlled by an Islamic State affiliate and cross multiple enemy lines to reach Damascus University’s Daraa campus in the regime-held northern half of the provincial capital.
Divided Syrian opposition tries for unified army again (September 15) As the Syrian opposition faces major setbacks on the battlefield, the Syrian Interim Government and FSA factions have been discussing the formation of a unified national army in hopes of changing the tide.
Will China Get the Lion Share in Syria Reconstruction? (September 16) The ongoing development of China-Syria relations could have a significant impact on post-war Syria and the influence of Western governments and donors on the country’s future.
The Aga Khan wants to rebuild Aleppo’s Great Mosque (September 16) Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) has funded major renovations from Lebanon to India, “but it will be difficult … we agreed with Syrian government and opposition, religious and civil authorities.”
President al-Assad: Syria is a homogeneous country; Christians are the basis of homeland (September 17) The meeting… dealt with the necessity of the Christian existence in Syria, in general, and the Syriac presence, in particular, as they are a basic element in the Syrian national structure with assertion on their deeply-rooted role in the face of the continued displacement attempts they have encountered by terrorism and its supporters.
Suwayda residents react to increased Russian presence on the ground (September 19) Beyond previous sporadic visits for aid distribution, today Russian personnel are based near and reportedly becoming a more familiar presence in Suwayda villages.
Trapped: The Desperation of Syria’s Displaced Civilians (September 19) By sealing their borders, Syria’s neighbors have blocked the escape routes of millions.
Regional and International Perspectives
A Move to Restore Dignity to Syria’s Victims ( September 15) Pursuing accountability for violating the dignity of a dead body may strike some as marginal in the carnage that is Syria. The opposite is true.
ISIS’s Expanding Campaign in Europe (September 17) ISIS’s attack campaign in Europe is expanding despite ISIS’s losses of terrain and senior leadership in the Middle East and North Africa. ISIS continues to plan, resource, and execute attacks from its remaining safe havens in Syria, Iraq, and Libya.
Policy and Reports
Syria’s Reconciliation Agreements (August 30) Raymond Hinnebusch & Omar Imady discuss local truces in the Syrian conflict and what the regime called reconciliation (Muslaha) agreements and the great powers later termed de-escalation or deconfliction zones.
To end a war: Europe’s role in bringing peace to Syria (September 12) European members of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) should push for an approach that focuses on national politics hand in hand with de-escalation efforts, moving away from an approach that only phases the national angle in after a ceasefire takes hold.
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
Chemical weapons’ attacks documented by the Commission (Infographic) (6 September 2017) Infographic by Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic documents when and where chemical attacks took place as of September. 6. 2017.
The Carter Center: Weekly Conflict Summary. September 7-13, 2017 Pro-government forces and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF, a Kurdish-led coalition backed by the US) have each advanced further against ISIS on their respective frontlines…The Syrian government awarded a large reconstruction contract worth 130 million Euros (~155 million USD) to Mabna, an Iranian company that specializes in electrical power plants and infrastructure.
The Carter Center: Weekly Conflict Summary. August 31-September 06, 2017 Pro-government forces made major advances eastward from their foothold south of Raqqa city. These gains led to the end of a years-long ISIS siege of Deir Ezzor…Russian negotiators reached an agreement with opposition leaders in northern Homs countryside that would allow the reopening of the road between Homs and Hama.
Syrian Refugee Children’s Uncertain School Aid (September 15) According to Human Rights Watch, more than 530,000 Syrian schoolchildren in Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan, the three countries with the largest number of Syrian refugees, were still out of school at the end of the 2016-2017 school year because of the lack of timely, transparent funding.
The Arabic version of this report can be found here: المساعدات المدرسية للأطفال السوريين اللاجئين يلفها الغموض
فدوى محمود في المشهد (September 15) On the fifth anniversary of the abduction of Dr. Abdul-aziz al-Khayer, a prominent member of ‘National Coordination Body for Democratic Change’, along with Maher Tahan and Iyas Ayash, on the way back from the airport to Damascus, Fadwa Mahmoud, a lifelong leftwing political dissident, shares what she knows about her husband (al-Khayer) and her son (Tahan).
شباك تذاكر: كفاح علي ديب تحكي لراديو الآن عن ملتقى المتحف في ألمانيا ودورهم كسوريين وعراقيين فيه(September 13) Kefah Ali Deeb, reflects on her experience as a volunteer tour guide involved in Multaka, a project in Berlin aims to provide newly- arrived Arabic-speaking refugees free tours of museums in Germany’s capital.
)18 (September د. دارم طباع مدير المركز الوطني لتطوير المناهج التربوية 18-09-2017 صباحنا غير
An interview with Darem Tabbaa, Director of The National Center for Curriculum Development, who responds to criticism raised by many Syrians on social media who criticized the new Syrian education curriculum.
Maps
Syrian Civil War Map (September 6) A map of the Syrian civil war that shows who controls what after five years of fighting.
Syria Situation Report: August 31 – September 14, 2017 This graphic depicts significant developments in the Syrian Civil War from August 31 to September 14, 2017. The control of terrain represented on the graphic is accurate as of September 14, 2017.
Arabic Links:
بمشاركة 164 شركة من 23 دولة عربية وأجنبية.. انطلاق فعاليات معرض إعادة إعمار سورية.. عرنوس: دليل على قوة سورية- فيديو
Activities of Rebuild Syria 2017 exhibition kicked off with the participation of 164 companies from 23 Arab, European, Asian and African states. The exhibition will be held from 19 to 23 September at Damascus International Fairgrounds.
أن تعيش الحرب “Living War,” the sixth chapter of Wendy Pearlman’s new book “We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled”
الجيش الحرّ ينشىء ثكنات عسكريّة في منطقة درع الفرات تمهيداً لإخلاء المدن من المظاهر المسلّحة “Free Syrian Army (FSA) factions in areas liberated during Operation Euphrates Shield in the Aleppo countryside are making significant efforts to eliminate their military checkpoints and armed presence in the small cities and towns under their control”.
The English version of this article can be found here: FSA relocating to outside Syria’s liberated areas
مسيحيو سورية This research traces the history of Christian communities in syria and their position after the Syrian uprising.
أغلفة الكتب المدرسية الجديدة تثير جدلا بين السوريين.. ما معانيها؟! Photos of the new Syrian education curriculum went viral on social media causing harsh criticism and Darem Tabbaa, Director of The National Center for Curriculum Development, responds.
استبدال قصيدة وخريطة بشكل فوري.. وزير التربية يشكل لجنة لدراسة كافة الملاحظات على المنهاج المطور Following a wave of criticisms to the new Syrian education curriculum, Education Minister Hazwan al-Waz issues a decision to replace a poem, written by a pro-opposition poet, and a map of Syria.
See also: قرار بتشكيل لجنة لدراسة الملاحظات على المناهج وآخر هفوات المناهج المطورة نشر قصيدة بدون علم مؤلفها
«داعشيان» من العراق وسوريا يرويان رحلتيهما مع التنظيم Two ISIS fighters from Syria and Iraq share their stories with the group.
يحاول صناع الفسيفساء في سوريا الحفاظ على الحرفةAfter years of war, however, many of the country’s ancient mosaics have been destroyed or looted. Contemporary mosaics, the work of Syrian craftsmen who struggle to keep up the craft of their grandfathers, find few if any buyers.
The English version of this article can be found here: Ancient Syrian mosaics crumble under weight of war
دفتر التلفونات السوريAmre Sawah writes about the telephone book and the nostalgic memories it brings to many Syrians.
[This article is published jointly in partnership with Jadaliyya.]
