

When the Islamic State group (IS) took over the Syrian city of Raqqa in 2013, Abou al-Cham did not flee. He decided to stay and risk his life by documenting how life changed for his friends and neighbours as the jihadists transformed their city into the so-called caliphate’s capital. In the years since, he has shared many photos on social media showing what he’s witnessed: children carrying Kalashnikovs, open-air prisons constructed by the IS and units of the religious police made up entirely of women. Citizen journalist Abou al-Cham told us his story.



He immediately started thinking about recording what it would be like for residents to live under control of the jihadists. Today, he regularly posts photos and videos of the city and what is going on there to his Facebook page.



