The Syrian Civil War Pt.7: Life Under ISIS in Raqqa

11 snips

Jun 4, 2025

Rania Ali, a filmmaker and public speaker, shares her gripping experiences living in Raqqa during the rise of ISIS. She recounts her childhood in a historically rich city that turned into a hotbed of conflict. Rania bravely details her involvement in protests against oppressive regimes, the liberation by the Free Syrian Army, and the harsh realities of daily life under ISIS's brutal control. She highlights the resilience of her community, especially women who resisted oppression, and shares her harrowing escape amidst chaos.

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ANECDOTE

Secret Code Words in Protests

Protesters used code words like "playing basketball" to secretly organize protests under regime surveillance.
Rania's first protest began when a friend invited her out with this code phrase.

INSIGHT

Liberation Brought Freedom and Devastation

Although Raqqa was "liberated" by the Free Syrian Army, the city was devastated by repeated bombings.
Liberation brought freedom but also immense destruction and fear from aerial attacks.

INSIGHT

ISIS Rapidly Seized Control

Early on, ISIS mingled among many armed groups, and people were confused who ruled daily.
ISIS used force and politics to quickly assert control, recruiting like-minded factions.

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Conflicted returns with another episode in our series on the Syrian Civil War, welcoming a new guest onto the show to tell us about her experiences of living life under ISIS in the city of Raqqa – Rania Ali.

Rania tells us about her experiences growing up in Raqqa, and the city's rich history - a place of conflict throughout the centuries. As the Arab Spring protests began, Rania became involved, and she details the secretive nature of organizing protests under a repressive regime. She tells us about the development of the conflict in Syria, the impact of the Free Syrian Army's liberation of the city in 2013, telling us about her family's exodus from Raqqa, and the devastation upon their return.

But a key memory for Rania in the conflict was the rise of ISIS. She tells us about the resilience and courage of her community, particularly the women who organized protests and resisted the extremist regime, despite the grave risks involved. We hear about her harrowing experiences living during the ISIS caliphate, the threats she faced, and her eventual escape from the city, alongside the thrilling and tragic stories of her friends.

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