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A review by saarahnina
The Raqqa Diaries: Escape from Islamic State by Samer
5.0
Touching
Samer, not his real name, has bravely written this book - risking his life to do it. Surely, the least we can do is give it a read. This book is his endeavour to inform the world of the destruction in Syria under the surveillance of the Daesh. He lived in Raqqa, Syria and hopes to be able to go back home. This book is made up of powerful diary extracts from his perspective, the perspective of a young man trying to figure out the ways of the country he thought he knew. Samer is a modest revolutionary, the quiet type, who has long since realised that the fight for freedom is, upsettingly, a long one.
This book offers a voice for just one of the refugees out there. It helps us to relate, as someone who studies history I've recognised how it's easy to detach ourselves from the information, and desensitize it. I've done it myself, it makes it easier to deal with the overwhelmingly bewildering numbers. Samer could be anyone, he has dreams just like many of us- he wishes to continue his university education- but, the chaos and staggering instability have forced him to put his life on hold. He is an innocent shackled by corruption and repression. He has lost so much already but, where most of us would stop- Samer persists. He's a determined force. He may have lost his optimism, he has been rid of his naivety, but his determination is unwavering. I pray this will remain.
He dedicates this book of his to Syria’s media activists, the friends, neighbours, family he has lost who were killed for exposing the Daesh's crimes. This book while simplistic in language, and quite a quick read, is immersive. Personally, I hated witnessing Samer's enthusiasm and bubbling excitement for the fall of the Assad regime only then to watch as he discovered that Syria under the Daesh was terrifying. The ever- tyrannical Daesh who survive by instilling fear, who work to ruin and brutally tarnish the religion of Islam, a religion of peace. and remain committed to punishing individuals for their humanity.
Samer writes how he holds on to 'the idea that in the end, good will prevail...' With reflection, he makes it known that he hopes 'the world will learn from this and stop it happening again.' No doubt, this is something that we've heard countless times after countless tragedies and world conflicts. He also shares his hope that the sacrifices made by his 'people will finally banish the cruelty and evil that has long stalked... [the] land. Unlike him, we are in a privileged position in that we can do more than hope: we can sign petitions, raise money, raise awareness.... Samer is a man who faced an impossible situation but still did what he could out of it. We are not in the same situation so, we should do more.
I received this touching book from NetGalley.
Samer, not his real name, has bravely written this book - risking his life to do it. Surely, the least we can do is give it a read. This book is his endeavour to inform the world of the destruction in Syria under the surveillance of the Daesh. He lived in Raqqa, Syria and hopes to be able to go back home. This book is made up of powerful diary extracts from his perspective, the perspective of a young man trying to figure out the ways of the country he thought he knew. Samer is a modest revolutionary, the quiet type, who has long since realised that the fight for freedom is, upsettingly, a long one.
This book offers a voice for just one of the refugees out there. It helps us to relate, as someone who studies history I've recognised how it's easy to detach ourselves from the information, and desensitize it. I've done it myself, it makes it easier to deal with the overwhelmingly bewildering numbers. Samer could be anyone, he has dreams just like many of us- he wishes to continue his university education- but, the chaos and staggering instability have forced him to put his life on hold. He is an innocent shackled by corruption and repression. He has lost so much already but, where most of us would stop- Samer persists. He's a determined force. He may have lost his optimism, he has been rid of his naivety, but his determination is unwavering. I pray this will remain.
He dedicates this book of his to Syria’s media activists, the friends, neighbours, family he has lost who were killed for exposing the Daesh's crimes. This book while simplistic in language, and quite a quick read, is immersive. Personally, I hated witnessing Samer's enthusiasm and bubbling excitement for the fall of the Assad regime only then to watch as he discovered that Syria under the Daesh was terrifying. The ever- tyrannical Daesh who survive by instilling fear, who work to ruin and brutally tarnish the religion of Islam, a religion of peace. and remain committed to punishing individuals for their humanity.
Samer writes how he holds on to 'the idea that in the end, good will prevail...' With reflection, he makes it known that he hopes 'the world will learn from this and stop it happening again.' No doubt, this is something that we've heard countless times after countless tragedies and world conflicts. He also shares his hope that the sacrifices made by his 'people will finally banish the cruelty and evil that has long stalked... [the] land. Unlike him, we are in a privileged position in that we can do more than hope: we can sign petitions, raise money, raise awareness.... Samer is a man who faced an impossible situation but still did what he could out of it. We are not in the same situation so, we should do more.
I received this touching book from NetGalley.