In a live testimony that reveals the path of a Syrian citizen becoming a fighter against Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Muhammad al-Hallaq narrates to the program “Diaries of a Fighter” the details of his struggle journey, which began in his hometown in the town of Atareb.
Al-Hallaq begins his testimony with a vivid description of a defining moment in his childhood, saying: “They were extremely cruel soldiers. They threw my father to the ground, beat him harshly, and took him, along with a number of the town’s men, as detainees.” This painful scene was the spark that ignited the spirit of resistance in me when I was a young child.
Al-Hallaq describes his town of Atareb as “a very ancient city,” where agriculture was the primary work for its residents, and he emphasizes the role of the social environment in shaping his awareness, saying: “I was raised as a sailor based on compassion and love, and the first house there was like the last house.”
Regarding daily life before the outbreak of the revolution, Al-Hallaq remembers with nostalgia: “My father used to take me with him on all occasions, and he would greet the young before the old,” which reflects the values of social solidarity that characterized Syrian society.
The incident of his father’s arrest is considered the turning point in his life, as he says: “The next day I went out with the residents of the town of Atarib in a demonstration demanding the Syrian regime to release the detainees, including my beloved father.” This event prompted me to participate in the protests and demand the rights of the detainees.
Al-Hallaq confirms his testimony to the close relationship he had with his father, saying: “My father and I were more than companions, may God have mercy on him. Indeed, we were much more than companions in great ways,” which highlights the profound impact that his father left in shaping his personality and his path of struggle.