Visa requirements for Syrians: Lebanon continues to destabilize In an attempt to limit Syrian immigration to Lebanon, visa requirements have been introduced - an absurd and moreover dangerous measure. This is a first in the history of the two countries. Before this change in legislation, it was sufficient for Syrians to present their ID card when crossing the border. By Haid Haid
Answer loud and clear: Planet Syria calling The regime is well aware of the impact of fear, of death due to random bombardment, on the life style of Syrians in areas outside its control, where everyone is too preoccupied with minute-to-minute survival to think of the future. By Haid Haid
On its fourth anniversary: The revolution and the battle over narratives Syrians and their supporters who continue to cling to hope and believe in the justice of this revolution—that they still insist on calling a revolution— have other narratives which tell us that behind the map of warring fascist ideologies lies the truth that our country has never in its history done anything better than entering into this revolution. By Mohammed Al Attar
On the Run in Their Own Country Less refugees are crossing Syria's borders. Not because the situation is improving - but because less people have the possibility to flee. And some are determined to stay, even if it means risking their life. On internally displaced persons in Syria. By Bente Scheller
Against the Currents Conmemoration of a terrible incident on the shore of the Queik river: Ahtletes in Aleppo remember the dead. By Bente Scheller
Assad’s Trap for the West Amid the general helplessness in the West, voices to approve a cooperation with Bashar al-Assad are becoming stronger. Whatever aspirations one may have for a cooperation with the regime, neither an end to the war nor safety will be gained through it. By Bente Scheller
Where the “Good Guys” get their motivation from There's little hope for an improvement of the Syrian situation. Nonetheless, there are civil society activists who are still working on non-violent resistance and democratic change. Sarah Schwahn conducted interviews with many of them to see what motivates them to continue. By Sarah Schwahn
Antigone of Syria in Beirut Early last summer Antigone’s journey through the camps of the Syria diaspora in Beirut began. Oedipus’s daughter, grief-stricken at the death of her two brothers after they clashed with one another in battle, pays with her life for insisting on burying one of the pair, whom King Creon has ordered be left in the open air as a punishment for his rebellion. This is Sophocles’ Antigone, the ban princess, one of the great figures of Greek tragedy. But who is Antigone today? How is Sophocles’ tragedy a starting point for addressing the tragedy in Syria through the voices of the Syrian women of the diaspora? By Mohammed Al Attar
Antigone of Syria - Press Coverage “A rewriting of history, which is only ever told from the point of view of men.” (Mohamad Al Attar) "We were not born just to listen, just to obey, just to receive orders. We should be able to stand up for something in our lives." (Mona, actress) By only participating in the theatre workshop Antigone of Syria, Mona – and, together with her, twenty-four other refugee women from Syria – have already proven that they are very much able to stand up. Read the reports on the emancipative power of art, on theatre as a form of political rebellion, and heartbreaking stories of loss and courage in our press review on Antigone of Syria.
To Stay or to Leave? No Escaping the Hopelessness in Syria Lebanon has opened its doors to more than 20 times as many refugees as the whole European Union. How do refugees take decisions to move to an uncertain future? What difficulties do they face? By Bente Scheller