RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – Nadia Muhammad, a woman from Raqqa in northern Syria, was keen to narrate tales and stories relevant to the past of her city to her children every day after they were compelled to leave the city following the control of the Islamic State Organization (ISIS). They have recently returned to their city.
Nadia Muhammad, who is a teacher and mother of three, said her children were not lucky enough to see their city when it was at epoch. The city has changed. Previously, it had natural, cultural and music aspects.
Years ago, and after ISIS was expelled from the city, returnees to Raqqa and its residents said there is an unusual thing they cannot discern. There is a difference between the city’s past and present status. This is obvious.
All returnees to Raqqa voice sorrows about a city that used from antiquity to attract people due to its position on the Euphrates River and its fertile lands.
Raqqa had the lion’s share in the destruction afflicted Syria since 2011.
War remnants
Ula Kheleif, a university student, indicated that ISIS is still present on appearance and the wide-scale niqab was very rare before the group could control the city, in addition to the security disorder that leads to burglars and offences that could not be controlled.
During her staying at home, Kheleif witnessed five scuffles with knives on the street among young men over simple matters.
The university student warned that in case such security disorder continues that could lead to high rates of crime and murders.
Sometimes a clan could attack another tribesman or clan with heavy or medium weapons with or without any sound justifications mostly.
Ali Sa’eed, a medicine university student, said that in such cases locals confine to homes avoiding anything implausible. This remains until the two parties or one of them finishes the case.
Ray of Hope
Hussam Ahmad, a Raqqa resident, who runs a cafe house said there is always hope in “educated young men who have become more daring to demand their rights and to face everyone that forbids that.”
Ahmad added that he is happy to attend literary and cultural forums of young men going to his café house every day that he could not see prior to the war and the entry of ISIS to their city and his return to the city.
Around a table, Fouad Abdullah, 25, prefers to stay in Raqqa and work in plumbing works to help his family to continue his study in Damascus without changing his fond of reading or attending evening forums and cultural meetings.
He pointed out that he does not feel sorry over that. It would have been better for him if he had continued his study and attain a diploma, “Today, people depend on experience more than diploma” adding, he could teach himself as if he attends a university.
Raqqa after these long years is full of educated people that could bring Raqqa back to its previous status of cultural sublimity.
While Muhammad Hassan, a retired teacher, wishes he could help Raqqa return to its previous status that to lash out at every issue.
Abdullah indicates that a lot of individual and collective initiatives work day and night to improve the societal and cultural situation affirming that coming days would substantiate that “be patient for a while, Raqqa would become more famous than Paris,” he said laughingly.
Hassan noted: “Raqqa is yours, be hers. Stop destruction, murder and sabotage. Help it and do not challenge it at least.”