Lina Sinjab
Appearances
Global News Podcast
US judge temporarily blocks Trump's freeze on federal funding
Russia's deputy foreign minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, along with President Putin's special advisor on Syria, are in Damascus. There's been no direct confirmation from the Syrian authorities on who they are meeting. Relations between the two sides are tense. Many Syrians want Bashar al-Assad, who's been given asylum in Russia, to be prosecuted.
Global News Podcast
US judge temporarily blocks Trump's freeze on federal funding
It's hard to tell whether the Syrian government will raise this issue or discuss the money the ousted leader fled with, leaving the country in poverty. The Russians will probably focus on their naval presence on Syria's coast, as reports suggest Moscow's military equipment has been removed from the port of Tartus.
Global News Podcast
Zelensky says Trump 'living in disinformation space' created by Russia
At Merje Square in central Damascus, men and women gather from across Syria. Each hold a photograph of one of the thousands of Syrians, whose fate is still unknown after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
Global News Podcast
Zelensky says Trump 'living in disinformation space' created by Russia
Human Rights Organizations say hundreds of the missing are children. Atiyah al-Musa and his wife Ghazieh are searching for traces of their missing granddaughters, 4-year-old Cham and 5-year-old Islam. They, along with their mother Hiba, were taken in 2014 by the security forces who raided their house in a suburb of Damascus. They took 14 people in all, including seven children.
Global News Podcast
Zelensky says Trump 'living in disinformation space' created by Russia
After the fall of the regime, the search started. Reports came out that some children who went missing could be found at orphanages. Like many families, Atiyah and his wife desperately hope they will find their loved ones.
Global News Podcast
Zelensky says Trump 'living in disinformation space' created by Russia
The Ministry of Social Affairs say they are investigating the cases of missing children. I met Mr. Ahmed Anizi, who is in charge of searching the dusty, messy and untouched files found in the basement of the ministry.
Global News Podcast
Zelensky says Trump 'living in disinformation space' created by Russia
Massgraves are regularly being discovered. In one week, four were discovered in this neighborhood in Damascus. The White Helmet Civil Defense say there were remains of children among the bodies. In vielen places like this one, the bodies are burned to cover the evidence.
Global News Podcast
Zelensky says Trump 'living in disinformation space' created by Russia
Parents who are hoping to find their missing children, for them the greatest fear is that they might be in the bones found here. The basement's owner, Ahmed Laham Sayed, says for years he knew there were bodies below and couldn't talk. He told me he had nightmares hearing the cries of women and children.
Global News Podcast
Zelensky says Trump 'living in disinformation space' created by Russia
Das ist Lahn al-Hayat Orphanage, wo Mr. Moussa und seine Frau Ghazia Tränen ihrer Großmütter gefunden haben. Wir wurden gesagt, dass das ein Ort ist, das viele Kinder von den Sicherheitskräften des Assad-Regimes bekommen hat, ohne eine richtige Dokumentation. Mr. Mu'tasim Saloumi ist der neue Direktor. Ich habe ihn gefragt, ob er etwas über den Fall des Schamanen-Islam weiß.
Global News Podcast
Zelensky says Trump 'living in disinformation space' created by Russia
For Atiyah and Ghaziyah, this might not be comforting. But for some of the children here, there is now a better chance of being found.
Global News Podcast
Man detained after Russian general's assassination
There are nearly 6 million Syrians who have been forced to leave due to Assad atrocities over the course of the last decade. And most of those wanting to return, especially those in Turkey, in Lebanon, who are living in difficult conditions, many of whom are living in tents, especially in Lebanon.
Global News Podcast
Man detained after Russian general's assassination
But for them to come back, they need their homes back, they need the economy, they need jobs to work in. And that's for the new interim government and the de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharra. They won't be able to deliver on their own. They need international support. They need the international community. And first of all, they need the sanctions imposed by the US and the EU to be lifted.
Global News Podcast
Man detained after Russian general's assassination
Those sanctions were tailored. against the government of Bashar al-Assad because of atrocities against Assad.
Global News Podcast
Man detained after Russian general's assassination
There are other designated sanctions that are headed to members of the regime, but there are sanctions on the country that blocked the money coming in, blocked aid to rebuild the country coming in, and that's a priority for the government and for Syrians and those refugees who want to come back first.
Global News Podcast
Los Angeles wildfires force thousands from their homes
For Youssef, now it's the time for everyone in the society to contribute so the country doesn't fall into another form of dictatorship.
Global News Podcast
Los Angeles wildfires force thousands from their homes
We are at Umayyad Square and this is the first day where civil society have gathered. It is the civil youth gathering. It's full of artists, painters, musicians and ordinary peoples. And the calls are mainly for a civil democratic state to participate in the formation of the constitution. They're welcoming the new government, but they're also saying we are here together.
Global News Podcast
Los Angeles wildfires force thousands from their homes
The Umayyad Square has become a place of exchanging views among different people. Something like the Hyde Park Speaker's Corner that never happened under Assad's power. Men and women are arguing about the country's priorities. The men think it is not time to talk about women's rights. The women insist now is the time for every right to be discussed.
Global News Podcast
Los Angeles wildfires force thousands from their homes
Savannah Bakli is a musician and civil society activist.
Global News Podcast
Los Angeles wildfires force thousands from their homes
People here want to be proactive and be part of any political process and want to make sure that they are included, especially women. They don't want to be deprived of their rights. They want to be assertive that they are here and part of the future Syria. Away from the bustling square, I visit 73-year-old Yousef Abdelki, who is a renowned Syrian artist.
Global News Podcast
Los Angeles wildfires force thousands from their homes
His studio is tucked off the main street, a traditional Damascene house with a water fountain centered in its courtyard. Once a prisoner of Assad's the father, he was also detained during Bashar's brutal crackdown in 2011. His work reflected the bleak reality of Syria under the regime, and a painting could get him thrown in jail, or worse, executed.
Global News Podcast
Los Angeles wildfires force thousands from their homes
He is showing me a large portrait of Bashar al-Assad that he drew in 2012, at the height of the peaceful protests. All these years, he kept it hidden, but now that Assad is gone, he's finally able to show it to the world.
Global News Podcast
Britain announces biggest increase in defence spending in decades
Das ist wirklich ein kritisches Problem und bis jetzt haben die Autoritäten keine Transparenz über die Kriegskriminalität, die in Syrien noch lebt. In den letzten Dekaden sind so viele Blutstörungen, so viele Menschen, die in der Gefängnis verschwunden sind, zerstört worden, Bombardierungen, chemische Waffen gegen Syriens genutzt worden. Und die Gemeinschaft will für das Gerechtigkeit.
Global News Podcast
Britain announces biggest increase in defence spending in decades
Sie will, dass die Verbrecher verurteilt werden. Und bis jetzt ist das nicht klar. Was ist das Prozedur? Wie werden sie darauf arbeiten? Was ist das legale Framework? Es gab einige Verbrechen, die in verschiedenen Teilen Syriens getötet wurden, besonders in den oberen Seiten, wo Alawiten leben. Und einige der Alawiten sind verurteilt, dass sie Kriege verursachen.
Global News Podcast
Britain announces biggest increase in defence spending in decades
So this is something really key to have peace and to have the country moving forward without falling into revenge killing. The key issue for the outcomes of this conference is how the CareTech government is going to take the recommendations. Lina Sinjaba
Global News Podcast
Trump’s demands over nuclear deal rejected by Iran
Videos and images on social media of bodies lying in the streets are causing anger among many Syrians. The coastal city of Banias is believed to have witnessed the worst violence, with women and children among those killed by forces affiliated to the new authorities. Those forces are reported to include Chechen fighters.
Global News Podcast
Trump’s demands over nuclear deal rejected by Iran
Violence erupted after remnants of the Assad regime from the Alawite minority ambushed security and army personnel, killing dozens of them. Syria's interim president, Ahmad al-Sharra, has vowed to hold anyone who attacked civilians accountable. So far, his forces seem unable to control the situation.
Global News Podcast
Trump’s demands over nuclear deal rejected by Iran
Many of his supporters have a hardline Islamic agenda that could pose a real threat to the unity of the country.
Global News Podcast
Fatalities and injuries in German Christmas market attack
They said that they were productive and detailed, and they went into discussing a variety of issues, but most importantly discussing the transition to a Syria-led government that is representative and inclusive of the whole society. They've discussed the issue of the security and stability in Syria, regional stability, and also security. some U.S.
Global News Podcast
Fatalities and injuries in German Christmas market attack
interests, especially related to the missing Americans in Syria during Assad's time. On top of them, Austin Theist, who went missing in 2012, and that they are still looking for traces of his whereabout, and they will continue to do so in cooperation with this new leadership and other partners on the ground inside Syria.
Global News Podcast
Fatalities and injuries in German Christmas market attack
They basically said that Iran had, you know, messed up inside Syria. They've been part of the killing in Syria and they shouldn't have any role in future Syria. While other, you know, regional countries have supported Syria, like Turkey, they will have, you know, a different relationship with the country.
Global News Podcast
Fatalities and injuries in German Christmas market attack
They basically stress that the most important thing is the stability and sovereignty of Syria and also maintaining security that will enforce security for the Syrian government, for Syrian territory, but also for regional countries.
Global News Podcast
Fatalities and injuries in German Christmas market attack
They are taking baby steps towards their relationship inside Syria. They haven't mentioned anything about lifting sanctions that have been imposed on the country during the Assad time because of Assad atrocities, nor mentioned that they will be discussing or thinking about delisting Hayat Tahrir al-Sham as designated terror group.
Global News Podcast
Fatalities and injuries in German Christmas market attack
However, they also committed to supporting the Syrian society and providing some aid into the country. But lifting the sanctions that will help rebuilding the destroyed parts of Syria, that's something that's still not on the table yet.
Global News Podcast
Trump and Putin to hold Ukraine peace talks on Tuesday
A mother weeping the loss of her 22-year-old son Habib, who was shot dead. Susana Yousef describes to me the moments her son was killed.
Global News Podcast
Trump and Putin to hold Ukraine peace talks on Tuesday
Susana also lost her sister and two other members of her own family. The Alawite women surrounding Susana in the living room, soothing her pain, are angry. They tell me they are being persecuted. Habib's father, Man, is a retired army officer who now spends his time farming his land. He walks me through his olive grove that has become a cemetery. Ma'an has no faith in this government.
Global News Podcast
Trump and Putin to hold Ukraine peace talks on Tuesday
He fears for their safety if they were to stay in power.
Global News Podcast
Trump and Putin to hold Ukraine peace talks on Tuesday
In a nearby village, another massacre was reported. Ten bodies of government fighters were found, apparently killed by Assad loyalists. We followed the White Helmet Civil Defence, who headed to the scene. Everywhere we went around, town after town are deserted. It seems that, from what we've seen, that these soldiers were tied behind their back, shot dead and then thrown...
Global News Podcast
Trump and Putin to hold Ukraine peace talks on Tuesday
towards the valley and the smell is reaching miles away. Saber is a government security officer who accompanied us to the scene. I asked him about the brutal attacks against the Alawite community.
Global News Podcast
Trump and Putin to hold Ukraine peace talks on Tuesday
The officer tells me they have already arrested some of the perpetrators. This is Al-Qusur neighborhood in the heart of Banias where most of the killing took place. People talk about a bloodbath against the Alawite. It is deserted and those who stayed behind are too scared to speak their mind. The fear is the country is entering an endless cycle of revenge.
Global News Podcast
Trump and Putin to hold Ukraine peace talks on Tuesday
In another Alawite village, on the outskirts of Latakia, there are similar scenes. Volunteers move between destroyed and looted buildings, handing out aid to the survivors. Abdullah Jaber is a neurology student. His home was burned down by government forces.
Global News Podcast
Trump and Putin to hold Ukraine peace talks on Tuesday
You want to stay in Syria? Do you feel that there is a future for you?
Global News Podcast
Syrian government says operation against Assad loyalists over
There has been lots of efforts by the official authorities to contain the situation, to stop the violations, but also the interim president announced a committee to investigate the killing, whether it's conducted by remnants of the Assad regime or by members of the fighters or factions that are affiliated to the new authority.
Global News Podcast
Syrian government says operation against Assad loyalists over
And right now they say that it seems that the situation is, you know, under control or calming down, especially around Tartus and Latakia. But we're not quite sure if this whole operation is over yet.
Global News Podcast
Syrian government says operation against Assad loyalists over
It is a very challenging time indeed, especially with remnants of the Assad regime still out and about. And of course, we have the challenge of all the foreign fighters who are, you know, still inside Syria and are reported to have been, along with some of the factions who entered Jabli and Baniyas and conducted the mass killing.
Global News Podcast
Syrian government says operation against Assad loyalists over
And that's why the interim president said that there would be an organ like a committee to protect civil peace dedicated to work with the families on the coastal side. But I have to say, it's going to be a very big challenge because, you know, these groups, both sides, the Alawites who are remnants of the Assad regime, who have vested interest in destabilizing the situation elsewhere. are armed.
Global News Podcast
Syrian government says operation against Assad loyalists over
The radical groups or the foreign fighters who have conducted also crimes over the past two days are armed. How he's going to strike this balance, how they're going to stop them, take them to courts, that's going to be the big challenge coming ahead to reassure not only the Alawite community, but the whole Syria and the international community that is watching the situation developing.
Global News Podcast
Syrian government says operation against Assad loyalists over
how this is a country that's going to protect all rights, equal rights for all Syrians, regardless of their religion or their belief.
Global News Podcast
Trump says it's easier dealing with Russia
Ja, I mean, Lina, just take us through the security situation since Bashar al-Assad was deposed in December.
Global News Podcast
Police suspend efforts to arrest impeached South Korean president
There is, you know, views of excitement that the world is coming back to Syria and acknowledging this new change, but also are hoping that these new governments focus on lifting sanctions. The country has been really crippled by economic sanctions. 90% of the population under the poverty line So having money coming in for aid for rebuilding the country is very important.
Global News Podcast
Police suspend efforts to arrest impeached South Korean president
But as important as well, many people are wanting these governments to ensure that the new leadership here in Syria does not abolish their rights, that will apply democracy and will work on the constitution that is inclusive of the whole Syrian society. However, some other people that I've met who met with the Europeans before going to the meeting with HTS also had some other views to share.
Global News Podcast
Police suspend efforts to arrest impeached South Korean president
I think there are lots of meetings taking place between different groups, whether official opposition in new emerging groups, artists, writers. You know, there are lots of meetings with members of the HTS. But the question is not those meetings, it's the delivery.
Global News Podcast
Police suspend efforts to arrest impeached South Korean president
Mr. al-Sharra, when he's talking, he is giving assurances to everyone that this is going to be a government representing of all society. It's going to be open and inclusive. But his government that he has appointed says, the way they're acting, they're not acting as a government of an interim government. They're acting as if they are in charge.
Global News Podcast
Police suspend efforts to arrest impeached South Korean president
They have the sole decision and they're making decisions on behalf of the whole society, like the issue of the curricula, that the changes were focused on, you know, focusing on Islamic background for the curricula and something that is really worrying people, women's rights and many other things. So people are out and about trying to say we don't want to be reactive to what they say.
Global News Podcast
Police suspend efforts to arrest impeached South Korean president
We want to be proactive in asserting our rights. We're not going to go into another form of dictatorship. We are here to speak our minds and enforce them.