Around this time two weeks ago, I had the chance to converse with and interview a man online named Mohammed (last name not given due to safety concerns) who used to live under ISIS control and continues to live in the Middle East. I felt the need to ask him what's going on and how it feels to be from the Middle East with so much going on. We never finished the interview due to Mohammed going abroad, to where I do not know. I publish what was said between us below to hopefully give you insight into the mind of a person that has lived and experienced the acts happening in the Middle East. *Most of the conversation is informal due to it beginning on a social website* Hope this starts some sort of positive discussion. Enjoy.
Me: What's up, bro?
Him: Hey yo, fine and you?
Me: Not much, what’s it like being in the capital of ISIS?
Him: What do u think… Total shit hehehe u are barely allowed to breath. Where do you live
Me: That sucks bro, I’m in New York State. Are you allowed to leave?
Him: I did leave, mainly I lived in Aleppo and when shit went down I left Syria as well. Fuck war bro… It’s really bad
Me: Damn, yo bro, I’m a journalist, would you be willing to tell your story or answer questions? (Where I work) isn't a huge platform but a lot of people want to know what it's like over there.
Him: For sure.. Anything that would help to let the world know whats going on here.
Me: Awesome so bro how long did you live under ISIS control, and how extreme was their control over the state.
Him: To live under ISIS control means that you have to do what you are told no questions asked. Be reckless and do something banned and you might face the penalty of death. Follow their rules and no one will harm you. But what a set of rules!
Me: What type of rules?
Him: Well if it’s praying time and you are walking in the street or your shop is open you will be warned and fined, next time you will be beaten in (the) street as a penalty. Women are not allowed to go around alone without a man under any circumstances… You are not allowed to take photos. Two weeks ago, 5 journalists were in Raqqah… I mean many things can get you in big trouble.
Me: I’ve read articles about the enslavement of the Yazidi people, is that openly talked about or accepted?
Him: I mean it’s dangerous as living under the regime control… But Isis way has a religious background. Not it is not acceptable to accuse them at all… and in my opinion, it is not true… Isis is a monster but I believe they won't do that…. My aunt is still living there… She is divorced and living alone… Sometimes she is not allowed to go to the market and go around to buy stuff for her(self)... But they will bring get everything she needs always so she’s still surviving. She’s been there since Isis gained control… No one (has) ever tried to do anything wrong to her.
Me: By regime are you referring to Al Qaeda? My bad if I spelled that wrong. And they haven’t enslaved Yazidi women? Also, I’ve heard Isis referred to as ‘Radical Islam,’ do they embody Islam to you at all?
Him: I mean the Assad regime not Alquada, Isis was mainly a part of Alquada before they separated, what I meant is the danger is the same, only (for) different reasons and accusations. And no I don’t think they did enslave any woman, as I told you they are cruel but they won’t do that… And what do you mean by embodying Islam to me?
Me: I really don’t know bro, truthfully I barely know anything about what's going on over there. A lot of people our age don’t (In my opinion) that’s why I felt the need to ask you questions. Like what was Assad and how do you feel about how the world is treating the Middle East right now?
Him: Most of us Syrians blame the international community for not putting an end to this filthy war, letting Russia join forces with Assad… Giving a ton of weapons to the Kurds… Bombing the whole country by NATO and other countries and Turkey the dirty snake of the Middle East, what's going on is the definition of a proxy war… No offense but the U.S regime is the no.1 responsible for that bloody mess… The terror and the destruction have reached an unprecedented level in the past few years… Chaos and death are everywhere… No words can describe that mess.
Me: I guess I get where you're coming from, we do (the U.S) seem to have a certain heavy-handedness when it comes to the Middle East. Do you think America should have stayed there longer rather than gradually pulling out to let you build (your own) infrastructure, and what do you think could help make thing better. Sorry if any of the questions don’t make sense, again I'm somewhat uneducated on the build up to what’s going now.
Him: In my humble opinion what I think is that Americans should have never interfered in the Middle East. Not even politically. Every time they try to do something war begins out of nowhere. If they wouldn’t come and cause destruction in the first place there would be no need for a rebuilding process. What I just told you is my opinion, so it is (to) many others… For so many reasons… Talking about this point can really take a while and not on a random app lol.
