The Boy Who Started the Syrian War
As the volume of media stories increases, the ongoing conflict in Syria is becoming more troubling every day. Even after more than 500,000 civilians have died as a result of barrel bombs, random fire and chemical weapons, there is a lack of belief in a resolution.
However, the opposition to the repressive regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is still opposed to it. Created by Al-Jazeera, The Boy Who Started the Syrian War is situated on the frontlines of this conflict, he chronicles the story of a member of the opposition who instigated the conflict with a simple prank.
In 2011, a 14-year-old boy named Mouawiya took a can of spray paint and painted a message of defiance against the Assad regime on the wall of his school. At that point, the youngster viewed the graffiti as nothing more than a form of youthful revolt. The authorities had a different perspective. They chained us to a post, Mouawiya recalled of his companions and himself being taken following the capture. A long period of torture followed, and this prompted the ire of protesters who began to congregate on the streets. Security forces fired on the crowd without a mandate from the government, this led to a period of civil war that is still ongoing today.
Graffiti may have fueled the revolt, but the writing was already in progress for many of its participants. Following the Arab Spring in 2010, the country was prepared for a revolt against Assad’s rule, and a full acceptance of democratic principles. The movie features interviews with several significant participants in this endeavor, including an average accountant who now serves as a leader of the resistance, and an educator who teaches children about the most effective defense techniques to the nation’s most vulnerable demographics. The filmmakers also visit Mouawiya, who is now an adult who is politically minded and fights alongside the Free Syrian Army.
The Boy Who Started the Syrian War features horrifying depictions of the destructive effects of the conflict and the tragic loss of humanity, it provides invaluable insight into a conflict that continues to have a negative effect on the lives of millions, and frustrate the hopes of democratic relations around the world.
