Waching daily Jan 29 2018

My name is Mohamed Ibrahim

I'm 54 years old

I made 4000 km from Aleppo in Syria

To come and take refuge in Angers, France

CONVERSATION WITH AN EDITORIAL CARTOONIST

FIRST PART

THE DEPARTURE OF MOHAMED

NONO TAKES UP PENS

Before coming to France

I was an associate professor at Aleppo University

I was working at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

I was living comfortably

my wife was working also

From march 2011

I saw how the soldiers reacted to protesters

they fired live ammunition at the protesters

at that stage, the events began to escalate

unfortunately, we have a system who imposed

you're either with us, or against us

I remember ... in my father's neighborhood

there was a group of opponents who are manifested against the system

after there was a small fight with them

between opponents and system soldiers

half an hour later, the fighter planes came to bomb the area

(I was in Maths!) putting everyone at risk

(I was in maths!) Next to us, there was a secret service center

(Me too! I mate the rebels!) there was fighting every night

(Me too! I mate the rebels!) we had terrible moments

when there was a demonstration in a neighborhood

the Syrian government responded by cutting off the city's water, power,etc...

and encircle neighborhoods...

(Do you still have family in Aleppo?)

I've three children who are with me

but I have my family who is still in Aleppo, my dad,

four sisters and two brothers also

but all my nephews who have passed the age of 16 years old

they all left because if they stay in Syria

the government or the other groups will force them to fight in their ranks

so, they have to leave ... they are scattered around the world

(What triggered your departure?)

In fact, I had no intention to leave

I was obliged, I was forced to leave

because it's true that for a year I risked my life, but I thought things will get better

where am I going? it was for me ... why I have to leave?

it's my country ... it's my family ... it's ....

but in fact, I received personal threats ...

I mounted projects, I brought budgets for research

between several teams; Syrian, Lebanese, French and Canadian

so, at the beginning of the events

in fact, as the position of France was against the government

they considered me as an enemy too

the cause that triggered my departure, because one of my colleagues who was dean of a faculty

one day he was leaving his house

so a pro-government armed group kidnapped him

they put him in the trunk of a car and took him to a center.. I do not know where!

for a day, they tortured him in an incredible way

and then they left him in the evening, they put him at outside the city

and then he phoned me at night

he told me that I have to come to his house immediately, he wanted to see me ..

well I went to his house ... he told me...I have to leave

(I am the dean of the university!!) during the torture, they told him that the second, will be me, they mentioned my name.

(Student at age 70, it's weird!)

(A rebel, leader!) so we decided during the night

because at that time the regime forbade people to go out of Aleppo

but in my head, I asked myself, if I am taking the right decision ?!

is that, maybe, it's to save the children too?!

at that time, the last two were not yet major

I decided for them..but for me too ..it was really a decision for ...

first to save me ... because if I stayed I can't know what will happen

so it was really hard

SEASON 1

MIGRANTS: THE PIONEERS OF THE 21st CENTURY?

Translator: Mohamed Ibrahim