Documenting destruction in Syria’s civil war
The civil war in Syria entered its fourth year this week. Since the conflict began in 2011, around 140,00 people have been killed, and more than 2.5 million forced to flee their homes.
Film maker Firas Al-Shater couldn’t stand idly by while his country was torn apart. So the 23-year-old became an activist. He started going to protest rallies with his camera and recording the violence and bombed streets. He wanted to make the rest of the world sit up and pay attention.
After several stints in prison, he was granted asylum in Germany in 2013. Although he is now far from home, Firas hasn’t stopped campaigning. His photographs have been displayed at a number of galleries in Berlin, and he’s now working on a documentary film called Syria Inside.
Listen to the report by Philip Smith in Berlin:
Public protests against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad escalated into a civil war in 2011 (Photo: Firas Al-Shater)
Firas was arrested for documenting and participating in the Free Syria movement (Photo: Firas Al-Shater)
Firas behind the lens (Photo: Firas Al-Shater)
This shot captures the city of Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria destroyed by bombing (Photo: Firas Al-Shater)
Firas’ photos have been exhibited at public galleries in his new city, Berlin (Photo: Firas Al-Shater)
