REFUGEE REPORTING

Why were you forced to leave your country?

 

Because of my work in the media field, producing written and visual reports about the situation in Syria since May 2011, the regime began to pursue me.

Their attempts to arrest me were indicative of the regime’s desire to gag journalists and prevent them from exposing the truth of their actions against their own people.

I carried on producing my work until the influence of certain armed groups – groups which claimed to support the Syrian revolution – increased.  The actions of these armed groups are similar to those of the regime in terms of their injustice and corruption.

When I started to prepare reports and talk with media outlets about all the incidents harming the Syrian people, these groups – including the prominent Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) – threatened to kidnap and kill me if I did not stop disseminating information to people.

They started to pursue me. I took the decision to leave Syria, when my movement in Syria became extremely dangerous and the lack of security began to affect my ability to work.  My decision to leave was also influenced by the fact that I lost many of my friends who had expressed their opinions, and my family had left Syria the previous year after our house was destroyed.

I left Syria for good at the end of 2013.

 

How did you feel when you left your country?

 

I felt as if my soul was being stripped from my body with every step I took towards leaving my country. I never expected that I would one day have to leave the dearest thing in my life; Syria.

I tried everything I could to resist the danger and oppression from the Syrian regime, but it became too much and I had to give up.  Despite wanting to carry on my journalistic career in Syria, I was unable to deal with the extent of the risks I was facing.

 

How difficult is life in exile?

 

This question related to career prospects, financial resources and family stability. 

I cannot achieve enough income to afford the cost of living here, and I cannot afford a place to settle in as they are expensive and difficult to find here.

There is also a lack of protection here as elements loyal to the regime and to Islamist groups move freely here.  I am at risk of being targeted by these elements as I carry on with my media career.

How do you communicate with your family and friends in Syria?

I communicate with them through the social networking websites and rarely communicate with them through phone.

 

How do you follow up the news in Syria?

 

Through my work in the media field my communication has increased throughout Syria.  I can communicate with people in every town and village in Syria.  My relationships with most Arab and international organisations have also developed during the conflict.

I can get access to information about any incident in Syria, wherever it happens.

 

What are your aspirations for the future?

 

On a personal level, I hope to continue my studies in the media and political science. I hope to continue my career in the media field and then be able to secure the needs of my family as a result.

On a more general level, I hope that Syria will regain stability. I also wish for the rights and freedoms of all citizens to be respected and guaranteed, as well as the rule of law.

 

How difficult is it to continue your work while living in exile?

 

The lack of experience within Syrian media organisations makes working very difficult.  Their lack of experience leads to a lack of professionalism.  Groups set guidelines for their journalistic work which fit in with their beliefs and ideology, meaning that standards of professionalism are not applied.

At the same time, I have to secure financial stability for living costs.  And it is also difficult for me to continue with my studies, something which the regime robbed me of since the beginning of the conflict.

Media centres do not emphasise the importance of enhancing the capacities of journalists or providing protection for them.  Some centres only really recognise the contribution of journalists after working with them for three years, and it is rare that they provide training workshops or assistance to us.

I have not obtained the journalist card that would add value to my career, despite the fact that I possess the suitable skills and proper knowledge.  Unfortunately, this journalist card is an essential requirement for many agencies and organisations.