(Illustration by Jaimee Haddad)
In light of the protests that broke out on Nov. 25 in several Syrian cities following the murder of a couple in Homs, we invite you to revisit this article, originally published on March 16, 2025.It was 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, in Akrama, an Alawite neighborhood in the south of Homs, when a message interrupted the conversation between Mohammad* and his friend Ali*. In between puffs of cigarettes, they vigorously tapped on their phone. Latifa*, Mohammad's mother, also receives a call."They are telling people on Hadara Street to stay inside," she said, panicked. The Alawite family's anxiety began to rise. Information bursts in, clarifies, and then distorts: "People from Bab Amr are asking Alawites on Hadara Street to lock themselves in," Mohammad corrected.30 minutes later, they discovered it is just one...
In light of the protests that broke out on Nov. 25 in several Syrian cities following the murder of a couple in Homs, we invite you to revisit this article, originally published on March 16, 2025.It was 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, in Akrama, an Alawite neighborhood in the south of Homs, when a message interrupted the conversation between Mohammad* and his friend Ali*. In between puffs of cigarettes, they vigorously tapped on their phone. Latifa*, Mohammad's mother, also receives a call."They are telling people on Hadara Street to stay inside," she said, panicked. The Alawite family's anxiety began to rise. Information bursts in, clarifies, and then distorts: "People from Bab Amr are asking Alawites on Hadara Street to lock themselves in," Mohammad corrected.30 minutes later, they discovered it is just...