Spurred by the pandemic, dens became offices, extra bedrooms became
“We were scared that people would come to us and kill us,” Mohamed said, clutching a prayer bead. “Our life has become full of fear.”Another Syrian Shiite shrine visitor said she’s been feeling on edge. She spoke on condition she only be identified as Umm Ahmed, or mother of Ahmed, as is traditional, for fear of reprisals against her or her family.
She said, speaking shortly after the coastal violence in March, that she’s thought of leaving the country, but added that there isn’t enough money and she worries that her home would be stolen if she did. Still, “one’s life is the most precious,” she said.She hopes it won’t come to that.“Our hope in God is big,” she said. “God is the one protecting this area, protecting the shrine and protecting us.”
A soldier from the Syrian government army reads the Quran, the Muslim holy book, at a checkpoint near the Sayyida Zeinab Shrine, where many Shiite Muslims believe Zeinab, the granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad, is buried, in Sayyida Zeinab, south of Damascus, Syria, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)A soldier from the Syrian government army reads the Quran, the Muslim holy book, at a checkpoint near the Sayyida Zeinab Shrine, where many Shiite Muslims believe Zeinab, the granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad, is buried, in Sayyida Zeinab, south of Damascus, Syria, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
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with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.Sope Dirisu poses for photographers at the photo call for the film ‘My Father’s Shadow’ at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Guillaume Marbeck, from left, director Richard Linklater, Zoey Deutch and Aubry Dullin pose for photographers at the photo call for the film ‘Nouvelle Vague’ at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)Guillaume Marbeck, from left, director Richard Linklater, Zoey Deutch and Aubry Dullin pose for photographers at the photo call for the film ‘Nouvelle Vague’ at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Shia LaBeouf, left, and director Leo Lewis O’Neil pose for photographers at the photo call for the film ‘Slauson Rec’ at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)Shia LaBeouf, left, and director Leo Lewis O’Neil pose for photographers at the photo call for the film ‘Slauson Rec’ at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)