The uprising in Syria has led forces sympathetic to the government to commit atrocities against ordinary men, women and children. And one not-for-profit TV station is at the vanguard of showing what is really happening on the ground in the war-torn country, writes Ben Flanagan
Politics comes before profits for a handful of television news stations that launched in the wake of the Arab Spring.
One of them is the Syrian opposition channel Syria Alshaab, which first hit the airwaves in July last year. It faces daily threats from those loyal to Bashar Al Assad, the Syrian president, the station's owners say.
"We're there to serve the revolution, and show exactly what is happening," says Summer Ajlouni, 26, the co-owner of the station, who is based in Jordan. "There's not really much objectivity going on in Syria. What they're doing is not human ... [The Syrian] people are not asking for much - they are only asking for democracy and freedom."
Syria Alshaab was launched by Ms Ajlouni's father, Mohammad, and she says the station is constantly at risk from those loyal to president Al Assad. She declines to disclose the location of its studios for fear of reprisals, saying contributors to the channel have been killed. "We are threatened every day," she adds.
The Ajlouni family is also behind ABS, a provider of television services with 14 locations around the world. Ms Ajlouni says while ABS is a commercial business, Syria Alshaab is not and she says her family has spent more than US$1 million (Dh3.6m) supporting the venture. Here, she talks about the station and its challenges.
qSo why did you launch the Syria Alshaab channel?
aWhen the revolution first started in March of last year, not a lot of people were saying much about it. People were afraid and worried. And people were getting killed, women were being raped and children were being tortured. It's been going on for well over a year now and just as many people, if not more, are dying every day.
What challenges does the station face?
Our presenters [with] families within Syria have been threatened. If they go back on air, their families will be killed and homes burnt down. One of our volunteers at the channel had two of his brothers killed; people that we have from within Syria [have been] killed because they work with us.
You do not reveal where Syria Alshaab is based. Why is that?
For security reasons. If we do state where we are based, we are worried that the Assad regime would try and find us and do something.
Do you have people on the ground in Syria?
Since we launched the channel we have been in contact with the Syrians and the Free Syrian Army. We have so many contacts with so many people, it's amazing. They come to us, we don't have to go to them any more. But you can't really send your staff to Syria, [the authorities] don't let anyone in.
Give some of the examples of the footage you have aired.
We have had people announce their defection to the Free Syrian Army on our channel. We have had exclusive footage and videos of people being shot, killed, and tortured. We have shown children that have been killed by the bombings, even being tortured. The things that you see … I wouldn't even know where to start.
So you don't hold back in terms of showing graphic content?
Not at all. It's a double-edged sword: if you show all that graphic content, sometimes people would not want to watch your channel because it's so graphic. But at the same time, if you don't show people exactly what is happening, then you will not move their emotions. They have to see. And maybe someone will be able to do something about it.
How is Syria Alshaab supported financially?
We do not run commercials on it. It's completely funded and supported by my father. We get nothing else in return.
Do you see it becoming a more mainstream channel in the future?
We're ready and we have our staff ready to go if - and hopefully when - the Assad regime falls. But we plan on continuing the channel as it is, or maybe giving it to the Syrians as a gift. This is the one and only thing we have done for a cause. We've had a lot of people call us and say they want to buy the channel, but that's not our purpose. We're not trying to gain a dollar or two, we're trying to serve a cause.
bflanagan@thenational.ae
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Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
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"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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Rating: 3/5
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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