Syria
A Dying Language
The living language closest to that spoken by Jesus is a version of Aramaic that persists In the Syrian village of Maaloula. Yet war, emigration and changing traditions threaten its survival, despite efforts by a few dedicated individuals to preserve it.
The Weight of Sanctions
Syria is open for business, its people eager to invest, rebuild and consume. But the U.S. economic sanctions originally placed on the now-ousted Assad regime remain in place, preventing any significant postwar rebuilding from moving forward.
The Existential Challenge for Syria’s Alawites
The recent massacres of Syria’s Alawites mark a painful end to a long chapter in the community’s history and highlight the existential challenges it faces following Assad’s fall.
Investigating the Alawite Massacres
A new investigation into the massacres on the Syrian coast in March details the events leading up to the violence, including interviews with survivors and militants who took part in the fighting.
Women Released From Syria’s Prisons Share Their Stories of Incarceration
Three women released from imprisonment under Syria’s Assad regime share their stories of torture, abuse and the ongoing struggle to rebuild their lives.
Treasure Hunters in a New Syria
Amid hunger and the aftermath of war, Syrians are turning to looting archaeological sites, and it will require time and resources to increase their protection and assess the damage. Yet despite the destruction, people remain deeply attached to their local heritage.
An Unwelcome Homecoming
I recently returned to Syria with my family to reconnect with the loved ones I left behind when I moved to Lebanon a few years ago. What began as a peaceful evening in Jaramana, near Damascus, quickly descended into violence.