Trees Die Standing

By Hadaya Ghassan was the son of the old war veteran Mohammad Hassan Mehro and came from the small farming town of Jamaraya. He was the fifth and youngest of his siblings. His… Continue reading →

A Long Deep Breath

By Ahmad Katlish While everyone talks about death rates in Syria, what I picture is a friend back there playing her trumpet. I remember her refusal to leave Syria, despite the critical security… Continue reading →

A Beautiful Day in Ma’loula

By Esam Hamzeh It was a very beautiful day when I went to visit the oldest Christian city in the world, in the countryside outside Damascus. That city is Ma’loula. To reach it, I… Continue reading →

Seeking the Jasmine Breeze

By Massa Bitar I have lived my whole life, 17 years in Damascus, but for a long time I never realised or sensed the beauty of this place. I never realised the greatness… Continue reading →

Not a Sign of Light

By Ahmed Katish The First Attempt to Leave Syria: As I arrived at my village, heading out to Jordan, the clashes were at their peak. I was unable to leave for days. That… Continue reading →

The Most Truthful Lie

By Maram Islambooli I saw the photo captured by my friend Suleiman years ago. A photo of a waste basket in a corner of one of Damascus parks, a photo which he was… Continue reading →

Moment of Departure

By S. Selka In 2010, Sami said goodbye to his father. He was going to Britain, his second home, with the hope of coming back to the Jasmine City in the summer of… Continue reading →

Cartoonist Yaser Ahmad

Damascus by Toka Samer