Syrian carpenters dust off workshops after years of siege

AFP / Maher AL MOUNESSyrian furniture maker Hussam Obayd measures wood at his workshop in the town of Saqba

Syrian furniture maker Hussam Obayd measures wood at his workshop in the town of Saqba

In a town outside the Syrian capital, Abu Suleiman dusts off his work table and pulls cobwebs from a cupboard he started making before the war.

Prior to the outbreak of the seven-year conflict, his hometown of Saqba near Damascus was famed for its carpenters and their handmade furniture.

But Abu Suleiman was forced to shutter his workshop after rebels overran the town in 2012, sparking years of deadly regime bombardment and a crippling siege.

A 2011 calendar still hangs on the wall.

In a town outside the Syrian capital, Abu Suleiman dusts off his work table and pulls cobwebs from a cupboard he started making before the war.

Prior to the outbreak of the seven-year conflict, his hometown of Saqba near Damascus was famed for its carpenters and their handmade furniture.

But Abu Suleiman was forced to shutter his workshop after rebels overran the town in 2012, sparking years of deadly regime bombardment and a crippling siege.

A 2011 calendar still hangs on the wall.

AFP / Maher AL MOUNESYussef al-Qabuni trims a piece of wood at his workshop

“I started making this bedroom set for my son Suleiman eight years ago, but I never finished it,” says the 53-year-old carpenter, removing cobwebs from a cupboard festooned with wooden flowers.

“I’m waiting for him to return for us to finish it together, so I can give it to him as a wedding gift,” he says.

After protests against President Bashar al-Assad first broke out that year, Abu Suleiman encouraged his son to flee in case the situation escalated.

Suleiman headed to Germany, where he remains today.

His craftsman father only returned to the dusty workshop last week, after regime forces retook control of Saqba in March and the wider region of Eastern Ghouta the following month.

888 Comments

  21. I bet anything you sweat knowledge. Will you be writing any additional articles on this subject? Because I would sure like to discover more about this. You kind of remind me of my professor. Every time I am on the internet I’m bombarded with junk fake news but I depend on this website for the freshest daily news. I do not fully understand what you are saying.

    https://martellotto.com

  77. Hi, i feel that i saw you visited my web site thus i came to โ€œgo back the preferโ€.I am trying to in finding things to improve my site!I guess its adequate to make use of some of your ideas!!

    https://siamslot168.com

  98. Firwt off I would like to say wonderful blog!
    I had a quick questin in which I’d like to ask if you
    don’t mind. I was curious to know how you center yourself and clear your
    mind prior to writing. I have had a hard time clearing my mind in getting my ideas out.

    I do enjoy writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15
    minutes are wasted simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or hints?
    Cheers!

    My webpage Agen Casino Online

  163. Can I simply say what a comfort to find somebody that truly understands what they are talking about on the web. You certainly understand how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people should look at this and understand this side of the story. I was surprised you’re not more popular since you certainly possess the gift.

    https://local.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&url=https3A2F2Fhttp://www.informaticos.pt/forum/member.php?action=profile&uid=122646&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGaY_nlK9ozc51fqwjiVdMaYZL7rg

  211. The very next time I read a blog, Hopefully it doesn’t disappoint me as much as this particular one. After all, Yes, it was my choice to read, nonetheless I really thought you would probably have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of moaning about something you could fix if you weren’t too busy looking for attention.

    https://sandbox.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https://nicolacapilli.com/sesion-pareja-alberto-toni-love-session-fotografo-de-bodas-en-malaga/alberto-toni-32/

  222. An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a co-worker who was doing a little homework on this. And he actually bought me breakfast due to the fact that I discovered it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending time to talk about this matter here on your site.

    https://ditu.google.bi/url?sa=i&source=web&rct=j&url=https3A2F2Feyedoctorphoenixaz.com&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGaY_nlK9ozc51fqwjiVdMaYZL7rg

  238. May I simply just say what a relief to uncover somebody that truly knows what they’re talking about on the web. You definitely know how to bring a problem to light and make it important. A lot more people have to check this out and understand this side of the story. I was surprised you’re not more popular given that you certainly possess the gift.

    https://images.google.vg/url?q=https://truthaboutmaleenlargement.com/do-women-prefer-girth-or-length-increase-your-willy/

  300. Can I simply just say what a relief to find an individual who really understands what they are discussing on the web. You certainly know how to bring a problem to light and make it important. A lot more people should check this out and understand this side of your story. I can’t believe you aren’t more popular since you most certainly have the gift.

    https://images.google.at/url?sa=i&url=https://ocrvcenter.info

  401. I needed to post you that little bit of observation to say thanks once again for your personal magnificent pointers you’ve featured in this article. It is quite remarkably generous of people like you to give openly just what a number of us might have marketed as an e book to end up making some dough for themselves, most notably given that you could possibly have done it if you ever decided. These points as well served like the fantastic way to fully grasp other people have similar eagerness much like my own to know lots more pertaining to this issue. I am certain there are millions of more fun opportunities in the future for individuals who looked at your blog post. https://nujemznuedi.online/

  403. I am commenting to let you know of the fine encounter my friend’s daughter found reading your site. She figured out many issues, not to mention what it’s like to have a wonderful giving mindset to let other folks very easily know just exactly several multifaceted subject matter. You truly exceeded people’s expectations. Thank you for presenting these powerful, safe, explanatory and in addition fun tips about this topic to Kate. https://abilifyaripiprazoles.com/

  404. Next time I read a blog, Hopefully it doesn’t disappoint me just as much as this particular one. After all, Yes, it was my choice to read through, but I actually believed you would have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of moaning about something that you could possibly fix if you were not too busy searching for attention.

    https://images.google.com.ec/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https3A2F2Fforkliftrepairshop.com&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGaY_nlK9ozc51fqwjiVdMaYZL7rg

  410. Thanks for the advice on credit repair on this excellent site. Some tips i would tell people should be to give up the particular mentality that they may buy currently and shell out later. Being a society many of us tend to try this for many issues. This includes vacation trips, furniture, along with items we wish. However, you’ll want to separate your current wants out of the needs. If you are working to boost your credit score actually you need some trade-offs. For example you’ll be able to shop online to save cash or you can look at second hand merchants instead of high-priced department stores pertaining to clothing. https://zyprexaolanzapine.com/#

  468. Bạn có biết chi tiết giống mèo hiện nay chưa. Mèo là vật nuôi được nhiều người quý mến nhất hiện nay. Thế nhưng bạncòn chưa có đủ dữ liệu để phân biệt các giống mèo. Việc lựa chọn một giống mèo về làm thú cưng không đơn thuần chỉ là mua và bán nếu bạn không biết tính tình và lối sống của chúng thì chắc chắn rằng chúng sẽ bị bệnh ngay lập tức.

    http://wildhog.org/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=zoipet.com/cac-giong-meo

  522. Having read this I thought it was very enlightening. I appreciate you finding the time and energy to put this informative article together. I once again find myself personally spending a lot of time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!

    https://riojatastingtravel.wordpress.com/

  530. I really love your site.. Very nice colors & theme. Did you build this amazing site yourself? Please reply back as I’m looking to create my own personal blog and want to learn where you got this from or what the theme is named. Many thanks!

    http://www.narratorblog.com/?p=1121

  664. Aw, this was an exceptionally good post. Finding the time and actual effort to make a great article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a whole lot and don’t manage to get nearly anything done.

    window

  712. I’m amazed, I have to admit. Rarely do I come across a blog that’s both equally educative and amusing, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The problem is something that too few people are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy I found this during my hunt for something concerning this.

    https://sprinter-source.com/forums/index.php?threads/55725

  742. Hi, i think that i saw you visited my weblog thus i came to go
    back the want?.I am attempting to find things to improve my web site!I
    suppose its good enough to use some of your ideas!!

    Here is my web-site – jailbreak ios 13

  746. Hi, i believe that i noticed you visited my blog thus i got here to
    go back the desire?.I’m attempting to in finding issues to
    enhance my site!I assume its good enough to make use of some
    of your ideas!!

    My site click this link