Wissam Zarqa is a Syrian activist and teacher at the University of Aleppo. https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/contributor/wissam-zarqa/rss en Civil Society Opposition Groups & Rebel Forces Thu, 07 Sep 2017 07:38:26 +0000 Wissam Zarqa https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/09/07/looking-for-democracy-in-idlib-diary-entry https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2017/09/07/looking-for-democracy-in-idlib-diary-entry After being forced to flee eastern Aleppo in December, Wissam Zarqa moved to Idlib. Although the insurgent-held province is not known as a bastion of democracy, Zarqa will always remember it as the place where he voted in his first democratic election. Civil Society Opposition Groups & Rebel Forces Wed, 05 Oct 2016 07:12:54 +0000 Wissam Zarqa https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2016/10/05/besieged-in-eastern-aleppo-but-happy-to-be-here-diary-entry https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2016/10/05/besieged-in-eastern-aleppo-but-happy-to-be-here-diary-entry Wissam lives with his wife in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, which has been under government siege since July. Violence is escalating in his neighborhood, but the teacher and activist wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.