Rima who is a dentist was subjected to pressure due to the fact that his whole family is against the regime. As the pressure exerted increased, he first went to Jordan, then to the United Arab Emirates. Finally, through the Syrian-American Medical Society, she came to Reyhanlı.
ORSAM: Could tell us about yourself, and your life in Syria before the civil war?
Rima: My name is Rima. I am from a Syrian village. My grandfather is known as one of the elders in the village. He is known for his hospitality, and thus his house was always full of guests. The problems of the village were always solved in the council of my grandfather.
One day, the security forces made a raid on the council, and they took some fifty people in the council in to custody. All the members of our family were arrested. While investigating my grandfather, “where is your son Muhammad?,” they constantly asked. My grandfather, on the other hand, told them that his son went to the province to visit his children. After blockading the house, some of the security forces came to our house in the province. I was seven years old back then. They arrested my father in front of my eyes. Nobody understood what happened. Furthermore, they expelled the children of my uncle to reach him. They wrapped a shackle around the neck of fifteen-year-old son of my uncle and made him walk on the streets of all around the village. Then the wife of my uncle was arrested as well. The children of my uncle were left all alone without their parents like orphans. Their uncle took the children along with him. However, the security forces arrested their uncle as well.
My father stayed in prison without trial for two years, then he was taken to court thanks to a powerful person my mother had found. My father was on trial for hiding information about my uncle who was against the regime. But then, a law had been enacted. And in accordance with the aforesaid law, “information about the first degree relatives can be hidden”; thus the judge reached a verdict to release my father. However, my father stayed in prison for another year. Throughout his imprisonment, he had to struggle with lots of diseases. His only fault was the fact that his brother was against the regime.
Of course, after all that happened, people around started to stay away from us. Nobody even came to visit us. Those who visited us, on the other hand, were interrogated the following day. It was not even allowed to marry the girls in our family. A person who wanted to marry the daughter of my uncle was detained for three days. “Why did you choose this girl? Couldn't you find another one?,” they asked him.
My father is lucky to have been released before long. My other uncle, on the other hand, stayed in prison for thirteen years. When he was released, he was all skin and bones, and he went through lots of diseases. He even lost his family. His daughter died, and his wife married another man. Because everybody thought he was dead.
Their third brother stayed in prison for seven years. After being released, he died of Alzheimer disease. And my fourth uncle was killed by the security forces.
Even the husbands of my aunts could not get away. We still do not know where the husband of my aunt is now. She, on the other hand, was fired from her job. Then she went blind from diabetes and hypertension. Although their son graduated ranking first in class from the department of philosophy, he could not be appointed to any public institution because of the decision of the government. All the lands of my grandfather were set on fire, and his all property was confiscated.
ORSAM: Could you tell us about what you went through during the civil in Syria, and what brought you to Turkey?
Rima: My father strived to raise the children of my uncle by keeping his shoulder to the wheel. Therefore, when the revolution started, my cousins took part in aid activities. By all means, all the young members of the family participated in the revolution, and as girls, we took part in the food aid activity. My brothers and cousins did not want to take part in the revolutionary council. They joined the Free Syrian Army.
As our house is located near the police building, we witnessed all armed conflicts. Everywhere turned into a blood bath. The bodies in terrible shapes were all around. Hence, we left our hometown. First we flew to Damascus and then to Amman. Finally, we arrived in Amman. We stayed there for two and a half months. There were lots of pressure exerted on Jordan by Syria. Therefore, we were not welcomed there. They treated us very badly. When the King of Jordan warned that nobody would treat Syrians badly, the maltreatments towards us relatively became less. In accordance with a decision taken, an obligation was imposed on all Syrians who migrated to Jordan to become registered in the commissioner for refugees. Those who registered their names in the commissioner were paid each 120 dinar. During that time, major storms broke out. All the tents were damaged as a result of the storm. I believe that the worst place for the refugees is Jordan. Although we are dentists, we could not find a job opportunity in Jordan. The specialists, on the other hand, started to work in emergency departments of hospitals.
In order to go to Dubai, we received an invitation through my sister. We immediately went to Dubai. The people in the United Arab Emirates treated Syrians very kindly. In fact, while wandering around, I carried the Syrian revolutionary flag on my shoulders. Nobody caused any trouble to us over there.
ORSAM: How did you come to Turkey, and what are your observations here?
Rima: As we always wanted to take part in the revolution, we got in touch with the Syrian-American Medical Society, and we were assigned to a duty for fifteen days in Reyhanlı district of Hatay. When we arrived in Reyhanlı, we started to feel like we came to Syria. There were Syrian families all around Reyhanlı. In fact, local families in Reyhanlı acted as if they were responsible for taking care of Syrian families. The Turkish people and government provided full support. I really appreciate the services provided in Reyhanlı district.
In hospitals, I saw patients in very severe conditions. The fact that most of them lost their hands or legs causes deep sorrow. Besides, most of these patients are children.
We hope that this war come to an end as soon as possible, and also we promise that we will not forget those who help us.
*This interview was conducted by Lina Zekeriya Saguj in Reyhanlı district of Hatay on 20 January 2013.
