DG - Return to Homs - PBS

Return to Homs

A Film by Talal Derki

Community Engagement & Education

DISCUSSION GUIDE

www.pbs.org/pov

POV

|2DISCUSSION GUIDE

Return to Homs

LETTER FROM THE FILMMAKER

The movie is about the Syrian citizen who challenged everything

and everyone to demand freedom. It's a movie about war and

the pressure of being in a battlefield.

When I got to Homs and met Abdul Basset al-Saroot, I was in-

spired immediately. I knew it: He was the personality that I had

been looking for, a courageous 19-year-old man, full of charac-

ter and charisma. He could bring the people closer to him in a

second, and everyone loved him and appreciated his energy.

Abdul Basset always uses his emotions. He used to do so in soc-

cer; he became a famous goalkeeper; and he did the same in the

revolution. In the first protests in Homs, Saroot climbed the other

guys' shoulders, took his shirt off, and started chanting, "Hey,

hey, sniper, here's my neck and my head." His message: "I am

Abdul Basset al-Saroot. I don't hide my face; I use my full name;

and I am here and against the Syrian regime."

What started as peaceful protests in Syria soon evolved into

siege in Homs, into the battles and violence around the country,

where snipers shot citizens and the regime shelled places killing

innocent souls. That's when Saroot started carrying weapons.

The character of Ossama in the movie represents the eyes of the

viewer. Ossama's camera represents the fictional presence of the

viewer in Homs. I wanted to highlight his role as a videographer.

We focused on Saroot and Osama's characters.

The filming was continuous: even when Saroot and his group

were stuck they were being filmed using zoom lenses, a process

that lasted for 15 days until they managed to dig a tunnel and

return to Khalidiyyeh. So the scenes in the movie shocked many

people—the shelling, the death of a fighter who was alive few

seconds ago.

The crisis changed each and every one of us. The challenges

changed us, but mostly it was death. Death left its mark on every

one of us: We all changed because of the increasing violence,

the loss of people close to us, the injustice, the fragmentation.

However, Abdul Basset was strong and very solid; he was and

still is persistent.

Talal Derki

Director/Writer, Return to Homs

Filmmaker Talal Derki.

Photo courtesy of Proaction Film & Ventana Films

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Return to Homs

2 Letter from the Filmmaker

4 Introduction

5 Potential Partners

5 Key Issues

5 Using This Guide

6 A Note About Examining

Ongoing Conflicts

6 Background Information

6 Religious Demographics in Syria

7 Sectarian Divides

8 History of Syria, Pre-2011

10 Civil War in Syria, 2011-Present

12 Homs in Ruins

13 Journalism Under Fire

14 Timeline of Events

16 Selected People Featured

in Return to Homs

17 General Discussion Questions

18 Discussion Prompts

21 Taking Action

22 Resources

24 How to Buy the Film

Writer

Faith Rogow, PhDInsighters Educational Consulting

Background Research and Reporting

Margaret Brown

Guide Producers and Background Research, POV

Eliza LichtVice President, Content Strategy and Engagement , POV

Aubrey GallegosManager, Community Engagement and Education, POV

Alice QuinlanAssistant, Community Engagement and Education, POV

Camille BordersIntern, Community Engagement and Education, POV

Isaac J. ParkIntern, Community Engagement and Education, POV

Design:

Rafael Jiménez

Copy Editor:

Natalie Danford

Thanks to those who reviewed this guide:

Christa SalamandraAssociate Professor of Anthropology, Lehman College and the Graduate Center, The City University of New York

TABLE OF CONTENTS CREDITS

Shot between August 2011 and April 2013, Return to Homs

(88 min.) provides an unprecedented look at the Syrian

regime’s war against its own people—a war largely waged

behind a media blackout. Return to Homs takes viewers on

a multi-year ride-along with a small group of Syrian insur-

gents led by Abdul Basset Saroot, a charismatic, 19-year-old

Syrian soccer star. Like many of his peers, Basset began as

a nonviolent protester seeking an end to the repressive poli-

cies of the Assad government—part of Syria’s Arab Upris-

ings, also known as the Arab Spring. The military’s lethal

response ultimately led him to take up arms to defend his

city.

The film’s chronicle of optimism disintegrating into destruc-

tion is a study of the emotional life of a rebellion, alternately

hopeful and unbearably sad. Its subjects are reflective, pen-

sive, courageous and desperate.

Return to Homs pierces the barricades of a besieged city.

Viewers see the maze of hiding places behind the walls of

bombed-out buildings, some of which are the insurgents’

former homes. We see death in real time. And we feel the

frustration and anger when promises of support are broken

and the world seems to be ignoring calls for help. As an out-

reach tool, this extraordinary documentary challenges us to

ask, “Who is responsible for such suffering and what can we

do to bring it to an end?”

INTRODUCTION

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Return to Homs

Basset in a crowd of protesters.


Return to Homs is well suited for use in a variety of set-

tings and is especially recommended for use with:

• Your local PBS station

• Groups that have discussed previous PBS and POV

films relating to the Middle East, political protest

and/or armed rebellion, including The Oath, Point

and Shoot, The Act of Killing, A World Not Ours, 5

Broken Cameras, The Brooklyn Connection,

Granito: How to Nail a Dictator and Armadillo

• Groups focused on any of the issues listed in the

Key Issues section

• High school students, youth groups and clubs

• Faith-based organizations and institutions

• Cultural, art and historical organizations,

institutions and museums

• Civic, fraternal and community groups

• Academic departments and student groups at

colleges, universities and high schools

• Community organizations with a mission to

promote education and learning, such as local

libraries

Return to Homs is an excellent tool for outreach and will

be of special interest to people looking to explore the

following topics:

• Arab Uprisings/Arab Spring

• armed rebellion

• civil war

• foreign policy

• Free Syrian Army

• honor

• human rights

• insurgents

• Islam

• manhood

• Middle East

• military strategy

• nonviolent protest

• political change

• protest movements

• religious and political martyrdom

• sectarianism

• secularism

• Syria

• war

• war crimes

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Return to Homs

USING THIS GUIDE

This guide is an invitation to dialogue. It is based on a belief in the power of human connection, designed for people who

want to use Return to Homs to engage family, friends, classmates, colleagues and communities. In contrast to initiatives

that foster debates in which participants try to convince others that they are right, this document envisions conversa-

tions undertaken in a spirit of openness in which people try to understand one another and expand their thinking by shar-

ing viewpoints and listening actively.

The discussion prompts are intentionally crafted to help a wide range of audiences think more deeply about the issues

in the film. Rather than attempting to address them all, choose one or two that best meet your needs and interests. And

be sure to leave time to consider taking action. Planning next steps can help people leave the room feeling energized and

optimistic, even in instances when conversations have been difficult.

For more detailed event planning and facilitation tips, visit www.pov.org/engage

POTENTIAL PARTNERS KEY ISSUES

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

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Return to Homs

Religious Demographics in Syria

To contextualize the conflict in Syria, it’s helpful to under-

stand the breakdown of religious groups in the country.

Syria is home to a number of religious groups, including

Christians, Druze, Alawite Muslims and Sunni Muslims.

● Sunni Muslims: Sunni Muslims account for an estimated

74% of Syria’s population of 22 million people. Sunni Mus-

lims are a majority in most Arab countries.

● Alawite Muslims: Alawite Muslims make up an esti-

mated 12% of Syria’s population and hold a great deal of po-

litical power; the presidential family, the Assad family, is

Alawite.

● Other: Christians make up an estimated 10% of the

population, Druze 3% and the remaining 1% consists of Shia

Muslims and other minority groups.

A majority of rebels in the opposition forces in the Syrian

Civil War are Sunni Muslims, whereas the military leadership

and government supporters are Alawite Muslims. However,

there are also protesters from Druze, Christian and even

Alawite backgrounds, many calling for more political

rights, social reform and regime change. As the war

in Syria has progressed, the violence has taken on sectarian

undertones. Some opposition activists believe that President

Bashar al-Assad intends to create an entirely Alawite state.

Sources:

Al Jazeera. “Q&A: Nir Rosen on Syria’s Protest Movement.”

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/02/

20122157654659323.html

BBC News. “Syria Profile.”

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14703856

Coutts, Adam. “Syria’s Uprising Could Have Been Avoided Through

Reform.” The Guardian, May 18, 2011.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/vcommentisfree/2011/may/18/syria-

uprising-reform-bashar-al-assad

Heneghan, Tom. “Syria’s Alawites Are Secretive, Unorthodox Sect.”

Reuters, December 23, 2011.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/23/us-syria-religion-alawites-

idUSTRE7BM1J220111223

A government tank drives through ruined Homs.


A NOTE ABOUT EXAMINING ONGOING CONFLICTS

It is difficult to analyze a conflict in motion. Return to Homs depicts one story and perspective of many in a tumultuous and

multi-layered conflict. As the civil war in Syria continues, the complexities of the issues deepen and positions often shift. This

guide is intended as a primer for viewers to continue their own learning, think critically about media depictions of the con-

flict and engage in open, thoughtful discussion, taking into consideration all sides of the issues.


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Return to Homs

MacFarquhar, Neil. “Arab League Votes to Suspend Syria Over

Crackdown.” The New York Times, November 12, 2011.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/world/middleeast/arab-league-

votes-to-suspend-syria-over-its-crackdown-on-protesters.html?

pagewanted=all

MacFarquhar, Neil. “Hafez al-Assad, Who Turned Syria Into a Power in

the Middle East, Dies at 69.” The New York Times, June 11, 2000.

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/11/world/hafez-al-assad-who-turned-

syria-into-a-power-in-the-middle-east-dies-at-69.html?pagewanted=1

Mroue, Bassem and Zeina Karam. “Syrian Army Launches Heavy

Barrage on City of Homs.” Associated Press, July 5, 2013.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/syrian-opposition-bloc-urges-world-

protect-homs

PBS NewsHour. “Author and Activist Elie Wiesel: Syria Is ‘a

Bloody Center of History.’”

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/02/elie-wiesel-on-

syria.html

U.S. Department of State. “U.S. Relations With Syria.”

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3580.htm

Sectarian Divides

Though the war is increasingly divided along sectarian lines,

sectarianism has existed in Syria for decades and denotes

political and socio-economic differences as much as it does

religious ones. Such divides have roots in the French Man-

date (1920-1946), under which colonial governments ad-

vanced minority groups such as Alawites and Christians to

positions of power in order to leverage control over the ter-

ritory’s Sunni majority.

The role of sectarianism in the Syrian Civil War is debated.

Some fear that discussions of religious differences only serve

to increase the divide, while others maintain that ignoring

sectarianism leads to an oversimplification of the conflict. In

avoiding discussions of sectarianism, critics argue, media

outlets have portrayed the Assad regime as what Patrick

Cockburn describes as “an evil government oppressing a

heroic people,” when in actuality the situation is quite com-

plex and nuanced. For more information, visit the Resources

section of this guide.

Basset and others rushing an injured rebel to safety.



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Return to Homs

Sources:

Cockburn, Patrick. “All the Evidence Points to Sectarian Civil War

in Syria, But No One Wants to Admit It.” The Independent,

February 12, 2012.

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/patrick-

cockburn-all-the-evidence-points-to-sectarian-civil-war-in-syria-but-no-

one-wants-to-admit-it-6785682.html

Salamandra, Christa. “Reflections on Not Writing About the Syrian

Conflict.” Jadaliyya, February 5, 2014.

http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/1:6290/reflections-on-not-

writing-about-the-syrian-conflict

Urban, Mark. “Why There Is More to Syria Conflict than Sectarianism.”

BBC News, June 4, 2013.


History of Syria, Pre-2011

In 1916, with Ottoman rule on the wane, British and French

powers took control of the Levant region to form the French

Mandate over what is now Syria and Lebanon, while paying

little attention to ethnic or religious divisions. In the after-

math of World War I and the weakening of the Ottoman Em-

pire, Syria functioned as a French protectorate heading

toward independence. That independence would become

official in 1946, following World War II. The decades of the

1950s and 1960s were marked by political instability and a

series of military coups. Between 1958 and 1961, Syria united

with Egypt to become one state, but it seceded in 1963, and

the secular Ba’ath Party took over. In 1970, military leader

Hafez al-Assad staged a bloodless coup and became the

head of the Ba’ath Party and president of Syria. After com-

ing to power, Assad quickly consolidated his government.

As an Alawite, he appointed other Alawite family members

to particularly key political positions, replacing Sunnis and

Basset leads chants at an early protest.



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Return to Homs

secular Ba’athists from within the party. He ruled Syria au-

tocratically from 1970 until his death in 2000.

Upon Hafez al-Assad’s death, his son Bashar al-Assad took

power with 97% of the vote (there were no other candidates

listed on the ballot). Some expected Bashar al-Assad’s

regime to bring democratic reforms to the country, and

Bashar was referred to as the “hope of Syria.” At the begin-

ning of his presidency, Bashar al-Assad did enact a number

of small-scale changes, including healthcare reforms and a

relaxation of media laws, but his administration continued

his father’s legacy of security crackdowns and political nepo-

tism. As of 2011, Syria was a middle-income country with

strong economic growth and fiscal stability. However, the

income gap in Syria widened between 2000 and 2011, and

the rising poverty rate during these years was one of many

factors that sparked pro-democracy protests in 2011, and the

war to come.

Sources:

Al Jazeera. “Q&A: Nir Rosen on Syria’s Protest Movement.”

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/02/

20122157654659323.html



Central Intelligence Agency. “Syria.”

www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sy.html

CNN. “Regime Backers Express Anger at Other Nations After Arab

League Suspends Syria.”

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-11-12/middleeast/world_meast_syria-unrest

_1_arab-league-bashar-al-assad-president-bashar?_s=PM:MIDDLEEAST

Coutts, Adam. “Syria’s Uprising Could Have Been Avoided Through

Reform.” The Guardian, May 18, 2011.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/may/18/

syria-uprising-reform-bashar-al-assad

Golovnina, Maria. “Asma al-Assad: A ‘Desert Rose’ Crushed by Syria’s

Strife.” Reuters, March 19, 2012.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/19/us-syria-asma-

idUSBRE82I0MB20120319

Kaphle, Anup. “Timeline: Unrest in Syria.” The Washington Post,

January 20, 2014.

http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/page/world/timeline-unrest-in-

syria/207/

FSA rebels mourn a fallen fighter inside the beseiged city.



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Return to Homs

MacFarquhar, Neil. “Arab League Votes to Suspend Syria Over

Crackdown.” The New York Times, November 12, 2011.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/world/middleeast/arab-league-

votes-to-suspend-syria-over-its-crackdown-on-protesters.html?pagewa

nted=all

MacFarquhar, Neil. “Hafez al-Assad, Who Turned Syria Into a Power in

the Middle East, Dies at 69.” The New York Times, June 11, 2000.

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/11/world/hafez-al-assad-who-turned-

syria-into-a-power-in-the-middle-east-dies-at-69.html?pagewanted=1

MacFarquhar, Neil and Liam Stack. “Syrian Protesters Clash With

Security Forces.” The New York Times, April 1, 2011.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/02/world/middleeast/02syria.html?_r=0

PBS NewsHour. “Author and Activist Elie Wiesel: Syria Is ‘a

Bloody Center of History.’”

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/02/elie-wiesel-on-

syria.html

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

“Syria Crisis Common Context Analysis.”

https://docs.unocha.org/sites/dms/Documents/Syria%20Crisis

%20Common%20Context%20Analysis_June%202014.pdf

U.S. Department of State. “U.S. Relations With Syria.”

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3580.htm

Civil War in Syria, 2011-Present

Beginning in Tunisia in 2010, the Arab Uprisings (also known

as the “Arab Spring”) swept across the Middle East in a wave

of pro-democracy protests that effected change through-

out the region. Solidarity protests in Syria began in March

2011 in the city of Daraa, and protests in Homs, Damascus,

Aleppo and Hama followed soon after. As depicted in Re-

turn to Homs, the protests began as largely unarmed, peace-

ful rallies filled with music and catchy slogans, aimed at

obtaining democratic reforms and the release of political

prisoners. The government security forces responded to the

protests with violence, killing at least four civilians, and the

violence fueled calls for change and demands that President

Bashar al-Assad resign. The protests became even more vi-

olent over time, and both sides have been accused of war

crimes. Today, Syria is in a state of civil war and humanitar-

ian crisis.

In November 2011, the Arab League suspended Syria’s mem-

bership and called for political and security reforms in Syria,

urging the Syrian army to withdraw its security forces from

A shell explosion blasts smoke and dust

above the Homs skyline.



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Return to Homs

civilian areas and to release its political prisoners. The Arab

League formed a “monitoring mission” to assess the regime’s

response to its mandate. In late January 2012, the Arab

League suspended the mission due to a dramatic increase

in violence. The diplomatic focus switched to the United Na-

tions Security Council with the hope that it would vote on a

draft resolution for a quick transition to an interim govern-

ment.

According to a 2014 report by the United Nations Office for

the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Syria has enacted

excessive force against its civilians over the course of the

past three years—deliberately trapping civilians and rebel

forces inside war-torn cities and withholding or blocking ac-

cess to humanitarian aid. Healthcare facilities have been tar-

gets of the regime, and medical staff members attempting

to subvert government restrictions on care have been de-

tained, tortured and killed. In 2013, the United Nations con-

firmed that Assad had ordered the use of chemical weapons

against both rebels and civilians, including children.

The main opposition to the Assad regime is offered by the

Syrian National Coalition. Based in Istanbul, the coalition

commands forces from abroad, though some local rebel

groups have representatives within the coalition. The Syrian

National Coalition was founded in 2012 in an attempt to or-

ganize a more cohesive force against the Assad regime;

however, the opposition remains fractured. Although more

than 100 countries have recognized the Syrian National

Coalition as the legitimate representative of the opposition,

in reality, there are as many as 1,000 separate rebel groups

commanding more than 100,000 fighters. The lack of unity

within the opposition has hindered its ability to fight against

Assad’s military regime and has prevented international sup-

porters from providing aid effectively.

The United States was slow to provide aid to opposition

forces in Syria not only due to fractured leadership, but also

in part due to concerns about increasingly militant influences

on Syrian rebel forces. Although Return to Homs depicts a

situation in which the opposition began as a secular re-

sponse to an oppressive government, as the conflict has

progressed, a more radical Islamist presence has emerged.

This presence has led to international concern over the fu-

ture of a Syrian state if rebel forces emerge victorious.

Thus far, the conflict has killed an estimated 191,000 Syrians.

As of the printing of this guide, more than 4 million Syrians

have fled to other countries, and 7.6 million people have

been internally displaced.

Sources:

Barnard, Anne and Eric Schmitt. “As Foreign Fighters Flood Syria,

Fears of a New Extremist Haven.” The New York Times, August 8, 2013.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/09/world/middleeast/as-foreign-

fighters-flood-syria-fears-of-a-new-extremist-haven.html?_r=2

BBC News. “Islamist Rebels in Syria Reject National Coalition.”



http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14703856.

BBC News. “Syria: The Story of the Conflict.”


Heilprin, John. “UN: Death Toll From Syrian Civil War Tops 191,000.”

USA Today, August 22, 2014.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/08/22/united-

nations-syria-death-toll/14429549/

Institute for the Study of War. “Jihad in Syria. ”

http://www.understandingwar.org/report/jihad-syria

Kelley, Michael B. “The U.S. Confirms That It Is Not Coordinating With

the Free Syrian Army.” Business Insider, October 16, 2014.

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-us-has-officially-given-up-on-the-

free-syrian-army-2014-10

Rebhy, Abdullah. “Syrian Opposition Groups Reach Unity Deal.” The

Seattle Times, November 12, 2012.

http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/

syrian-opposition-groups-reach-unity-deal/

Selo, Lava. “The U.N. Has Stopped Counting, But Syrians Keep Dying.”

Parallels, January 12, 2014.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/01/12/261059900/

the-u-n-has-stopped-counting-but-syrians-keep-dying

Sterling, Joe. “Daraa: The Spark That Lit the Syrian Flame.” CNN,

March 1, 2012.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/01/world/meast/syria-crisis-beginnings/

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. “More Than Four

Million Syrians Have Now Fled War and Persecution.”

http://www.unhcr.org/559d648a9.html



https://docs.unocha.org/sites/dms/Documents/

Syria%20Crisis%20Common%20Context%20Analysis_June%202014.pdf


“Syrian Arab Republic.”

http://www.unocha.org/syria.


|12DISCUSSION GUIDE

Return to Homs

Homs in Ruins

Once referred to as the “capital of the revolution,” the city of

Homs has been a major battleground between opposition

and government forces over the course of the war and has

experienced some of the worst violence of any Syrian city. In

2012, the Syrian military conducted two major military oper-

ations in the city of Homs, killing an estimated 700 civilians,

many of whom were children. Although the military re-

claimed the district of Bab Amr in Homs, 15 to 20 percent of

Homs was under opposition control through the end of 2012.

In 2013, opposition forces in Homs received an influx of

weapons and outside support, but siege warfare conducted

by the military forced rebels to lose ground, and Homs fell to

government forces in May 2014. After a siege surrounding

the Old City that trapped 3,000 people in the city with no

access to food or medicine, teams from the United Nations

and the Red Crescent (the Arab delegation of the Red

Cross) brokered a temporary ceasefire in order to evacuate

more than 1,500 fighters and their relatives from the area.

They were transferred to rebel-held territories in northern

Syria, and government forces moved in to take over the Old

City. The United Nations advised caution to civilians who

wished to return to Homs, saying that there were still

booby traps and landmines in the area.

Sources:

Al Jazeera. “Timeline of Syria’s Raging War.”

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/

2012/02/201225111654512841.html

BBC News. “Homs: Syrian Revolution’s Fallen ‘Capital.’”


BBC News. “Syria Conflict: Government Troops Retake Homs Old City.”


Mroue, Bassem and Zeina Karam. “Syrian Army Launches Heavy

Barrage on City of Homs.” Associated Press, July 5, 2013.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/syrian-opposition-bloc-urges-world-

protect-homs

A section of Homs, destroyed in the conflict.



|13DISCUSSION GUIDE

Return to Homs

Journalism Under Fire

Journalists in Syria face great danger in reporting the events

of the war. Between 2011 and 2014, at least 79 journalists

were killed, making Syria the most dangerous country in the

world for media workers at present, and the second most

deadly country overall for journalists in the past 20 years. In

Return to Homs, we meet Ossama al-Homsi (a pseudonym

that means “Ossama of Homs”), a media activist and friend

of Abdul Basset Saroot. Ossama went missing in 2012, and

today his whereabouts are unknown. At least 20 other media

workers have gone missing while reporting on the conflict.

In 2011, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad introduced a num-

ber of reforms intended to appease the pro-democracy pro-

testers, including the loosening of some Internet and media

restrictions. However, the new media law maintained old re-

strictions on foreign journalists. In the ensuing years of war

and violence, there have been media blackouts, and journal-

ists have been specific targets of the Syrian government.

Professional journalists, alongside citizen bloggers, have

been detained, tortured and killed in the government’s at-

tempt to control the media.

Making Return to Homs was a dangerous endeavor for

the filmmakers. The regime enforced a news black-

out, and filmmakers were labeled terrorists. Cameras were

often dismantled and hidden in car chassis to get past

checkpoints, then reassembled. Videographers recharged

phones and laptops from car batteries and portable gener-

ators. Footage was smuggled out of the war zone at great

risk.

Sources:

Committee to Protect Journalists. “International Journalists Killed at

High Rate in 2014; Middle East Deadliest Region.”

https://cpj.org/reports/2014/12/international-journalists-killed-at-high-

rate-in-2014-middle-east-deadliest-region-for-press.php



https://docs.unocha.org/sites/dms/Documents/Syria%20Crisis%20

Common%20Context%20Analysis_June%202014.pdf

Ziv, Stav. “Report: 60 Journalists Killed in 2014, Syria Deadliest

Country.” Newsweek, December 23, 2014.

http://www.newsweek.com/report-60-journalists-killed-2014-syria-

deadliest-country-294328

Basset leads chants at an early protest.



|14DISCUSSION GUIDE

Return to Homs

Timeline of Events

January-March 2011: Pro-democracy protests spread across the Middle East in the wake of the Arab Uprisings.

March 15, 2011: A “Day of Dignity” is held when protesters call for the release of political prisoners. On the same

day, a “Day of Rage” rally is held in the city of Daraa. Violence erupts in Daraa after a group of teenagers are

arrested for writing political graffiti. Dozens of protesters are killed by security forces in Daraa.

May 2011:

● President Bashar al-Assad abolishes martial law and subsequently introduces a new “counterterrorism” law.

Syrian military troops are deployed in civilian areas.

● The United States imposes sanctions on Syria.

August 2011:

● The Syrian National Council is formed.

● President Barack Obama calls upon Assad to step down.

November 2011: The Arab League imposes sanctions on Syria.

January 2012: Al-Qaeda establishes its presence in Syria through the rebel group Jabhat al-Nusra.

February 2012:

● The U.N. General Assembly passes a nonbinding resolution endorsing the Arab League’s plan for Assad to

step down. When the resolution reaches the U.N. Security Council, it is vetoed by Russia and China.

● Syria holds a referendum on a new constitution, but rebel forces dismiss it as a sham.

March 2012:

● Syrian troops take control of the Bab Amr neighborhood in Homs after killing hundreds of civilians in a

siege.

● The United Nations estimates 8,000 Syrians have died over the course of the conflict.

April 2012: The Syrian government promises to comply with a U.N. ceasefire on the condition that it can continue to

defend itself against forces it perceives to be terrorists. The ceasefire ultimately fails.

May 2012: An attack on Homs kills more than 100 civilians, more than half of whom are children.

June 2012: The United Nations suspends peacekeeper patrols due to escalating violence.

July 2012: The Syrian government threatens to use chemical weapons if foreign powers intercede in the conflict.

August 2012: Obama refers to chemical weapons as a “red line,” explaining that if Syria crosses the line and uses

chemical weapons against rebel forces, the United States will intervene.

November 2012: The Syrian National Council becomes the Syrian National Coalition to form a more cohesive front

against government forces.

February 2013:

● The U.N. Security Council estimates that the number of civilians killed is approaching 70,000.

● There is an influx of weapons from outside forces to support the Syrian National Coalition.

April 2013:

The jihadist militant group, ISIS (also known as ISIL and IS) expands into Syria. ISIS grew out of al-Qaeda (the

groups later split) and is one of the main jihadist government-opposition groups in Syria and Iraq. ISIS operates

independently of other jihadist and rebel groups, with its own set of objectives.

June 2013:

● Obama authorizes sending weapons to Syrian rebel forces in response to reported use of chemical

weapons by Assad’s government.

● The United Nations estimates 93,000 Syrians have been killed.


|15DISCUSSION GUIDE

Return to Homs

August 2013:

● Assad is accused of using chemical weapons on civilians, including children. The Syrian government denies this

and blames the chemical attacks on rebel forces.

● Obama seeks Congressional approval to intervene with force in Syria.

September 2013:

● Obama decides not to intervene in Syria.

● The United States and Russia agree to a plan to dismantle chemical weapons in Syria.

October 2013: Chemical weapons factories in Syria are officially out of operation.

December 2013: A U.N. fact-finding team determines that people at the highest levels of the Syrian government are

responsible for war crimes.

January 2014:

● The United Nations stops counting Syrian deaths due to unreliable data as a result of the chaotic conditions of

war.

● The first round of international peace talks regarding the Syrian Civil War begins in Geneva.

February 2014: A second round of peace talks is held in Geneva. All parties fail to reach an agreement.

May 2014: The Syrian military regains control of Homs.

June 2014:

● Presidential elections are held in Syria. For the first time since Hafez al-Assad took power, more than one

candidate is allowed on the ballot. Bashar al-Assad wins the election.

● ISIS declares an Islamic state over its controlled territories in Syria and Iraq.

July 2014: The United Nations unanimously approves a plan to allow aid into Syria without the approval of the Syrian

government.

August 2014: The United Nations releases its first death count since its announcement in January that it would stop

counting due to unreliable data: it estimates that more than 191,000 people have been killed over the course of the

war.

Sources:

Al Jazeera. “Timeline of Syria’s Raging War.” http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2012/02/201225111654512841.html

BBC News. “Syria Conflict: Government Troops Retake Homs Old City.” http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27323736

BBC News. “Isis Rebels Declare ‘Islamic State’ in Iraq and Syria.” June 30, 2014. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28082962

BBC News. “Syria Profile.” http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14703856

BBC News. “Syria Iraq: The Islamic State Militant Group.” August 2, 2014. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-24179084

Chivers, C.J and Eric Schmitt. “Saudis Step Up Help for Rebels in Syria With Croatian Arms”. The New York Times. February 25. 2013.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/26/world/middleeast/in-shift-saudis-are-said-to-arm-rebels-in-syria.html?_r=0

CNN. “Syria Civil War Fast Facts.” http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/27/world/meast/syria-civil-war-fast-facts/

Laub, Zachary and Jonathan Masters. “The Islamic State.” Council on Foreign Relations. May 18, 2015. http://www.cfr.org/iraq/islamic-state/p14811

Sanchez, Ray. “ISIS, ISIL or the Islamic State?” CNN. January 23, 2015. http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/09/world/meast/isis-isil-islamic-state/

The New York Times. “Video Feature: The Story of ISIS.” December 16, 2014. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/15/world/middleeast/

video-feature-the-story-of-isis.html

The New York Times. “Events in Syria: A Chronology.” September 1, 2011. http://www.nytimes.com/ref/timestopics/syriatimeline.html?pagewanted=all

SELECT PEOPLE

|16DISCUSSION GUIDE

Return to Homs

Abdul Basset Saroot

A 19-year-old goalkeeper for the Syrian National Youth Soccer

Team who becomes a rebel leader in the city of Homs.

Ossama al-Homsi

A 24-year-old journalist who films the early stages of rebellion.

He is shot and later is “disappeared.”

Talal Derki

The director and narrator of the film.

Selected People Featured in Return to Homs

Immediately after the film, you may want to give people a

few quiet moments to reflect on what they have seen or

pose a general question (examples below) and give people

some time to themselves to jot down or think about their

answers before opening the discussion:

• Describe a moment or scene in the film that you

found particularly disturbing or moving. What was it

about that scene that was especially compelling for

you?

• If you could ask anyone in the film a single question

what would you ask and why?

• What did you learn from this film? What insights did

it provide?

• If a friend asked you what this film was about, what

would you say?

GENERAL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

|17DISCUSSION GUIDE

Return to Homs

Homs protestors dance at the beginning of the revolution.


DISCUSSION PROMPTS

|18DISCUSSION GUIDE

Return to Homs

Resistance

The narrator says, “I can't judge if we did the right thing.”

What do you think?

Government opponents in Homs saw the Assad administra-

tion as corrupt and repressive. Given those circumstances,

how would you decide when and how to fight back?

Basset says, “We didn’t demand toppling the regime at first.

It was what we learned that changed us.” What did they

learn that pushed Basset and others like him from nonvio-

lent street protests to believing that, as he says later, “peace-

ful resistance is futile”? When street protests failed to spark

change, what were the alternatives?

From Basset’s perspective, “The world watches what is hap-

pening... how we’re getting killed, one by one... while it re-

mains as silent as a graveyard.” He even sings a song

expressing frustration with then head of the United Nations

Kofi Annan. What might Annan, the United Nations or other

nations have done that they did not do?

Ossama records video of a hospital that has been used as a

torture site. What are all the possible responses to a gov-

ernment that commits atrocities against its own people?

Clearly outgunned, the rebels want military aid. In your view,

should the United States or other nations provide arms or

commit their own military assets to the fight? What insights

did the film provide that influenced your answer to that

question?

Basset uses songs to inspire his followers. What role does

music play in political change movements? What songs have

inspired you?

Ossama, who hoped that his videos and photographs “would

shake the world to its core,” was presumably detained or

killed by Syrian authorities for filming them. What is it about

media coverage that repressive governments fear? What

contributions do fighters who take cameras into battle in-

stead of guns make?

The filmmaker notes that the rebels of Homs were “lured by

their small victories” but “lost the big battle.” What did you

learn from the film about how rebel armies are funded,

trained and supplied?

Basset takes aim on Assad forces.


DISCUSSION PROMPTS

|19DISCUSSION GUIDE

Return to Homs

After yet another battle in which people around him are

killed, Basset says, “I no longer have it in me to do this.”

When do anger and grief provide emotional fuel for the fight

and when are they a drain?

What did you learn from the film about the roles of creativ-

ity and courage in the development of rebel strategies?

Basset and his men are young. He is 19; Ossama is 24. What

are the benefits and drawbacks of having young people in

leadership positions? What does your community expect of

people this age?

Basset proudly says, “I don’t hide my face. I use my full name,

and I am here and against the Syrian regime.” How does re-

vealing his identity potentially strengthen and also weaken

his effectiveness as a fighter and leader?

In the film, we see very few women depicted. Why do you

think that might be? How does this compare to other media

representations of the war in Syria (or wars in general)? Do

women have a visible role? Why do you think that is or is not

the case?

The future of Syria is uncertain, and though uprisings in

many Arab countries have brought about changes, a number

of those uprisings have also turned sour as countries transi-

tioned to new powers. What do you see as Syria’s options

for new leadership? If the choice is between a violent dicta-

torship and an intolerant theocracy, what are a country’s

prospects and how do the people choose? Can you think of

other examples of successful or unsuccessful changes in po-

litical rule? In times of political turmoil and conflict, how can

it be assured that a new party arises that brings peace and

addresses the needs of the country’s citizens?

Two boys in Homs.


DISCUSSION PROMPTS

|20DISCUSSION GUIDE

Return to Homs

Ideologies

From what you see in the film, what role does Basset’s faith

play in his life?

One of Basset’s songs says of the Syrian army, “The honor in

them is dead.” How are the rebels defining “honor”? How

does their definition compare to yours?

Basset says, “My dream is to become a martyr.” What is the

value of the concept of martyrdom to a resistance move-

ment? How is the Free Syrian Army’s commitment to mar-

tyrdom different than, say, that of a suicide bomber?

Basset risks his life to protect Homs. The film describes the

city as “precious,” noting that “nothing can compensate for

[its] loss.” What is the power of places, especially the places

we call “home”?

Basset says that the rebels just “want to live in dignity and

freedom” and he declares in song, “We’re ready to die for

freedom.” What values do you hold dear enough that you

would be willing to die for them?

Image and Perception

What did you learn from the film about the conflict in Syria

that wasn’t reported in the news? In what ways did the film

affirm or challenge what you knew about recent events in

Syria?

If you didn’t know that Basset and his men were fighting the

Syrian government, what would you think about them?

What would you assume they were doing? Who would you

assume they were targeting and why would you think that?

Ossama records early, nonviolent street protests in Homs.

How does the presence of people with digital cameras or

camera phones and their ability to upload and disseminate

their pictures influence protest movements, especially in

places like Syria, where formal media have been banned?

Given the danger, do you think that recording footage for

this film is worth the risk?

A crowd of protestors holding up peace signs.


Additional media literacy questions are available at:

www.pbs.org/pov/educators/media-literacy.php

Taking Action

• Host a teach-in or panel discussion on the history of the conflict in Syria,

how it relates to other conflicts in the region and how the U.S. should

respond.

• Investigate ways to help organizations that aid Syrian refugees.

• Invite a participant in the Arab Uprisings to talk about their experiences

(or read one of their accounts). Use what you learn to provide context for

the conflict in Syria.

|21DISCUSSION GUIDE

Return to Homs

FSA fighters rescue an injured comrade under heavy government fire.


Syrian Perspectives

ASHARQ AL-AWSAT: “FREE SYRIAN ARMY CHIEF ON

ISIS, GENEVA AND SYRIA’S CIVIL WAR”

www.aawsat.net/2013/10/article55319313/free-syrian-army-chief-on-isis-geneva-and-syrias-civil-war

This is a 2013 interview with the nominal leader of the Free

Syrian Army, General Salim Idris.

FREE SYRIAN ARMY

www.syrianarmyfree.net

The official site of the Free Syrian Army is in Arabic, but

its forums can be viewed in English using an online

translation program (e.g., Google translate).

STUDENTS ORGANIZE FOR SYRIA

www.organize4syria.com

The site for this solidarity organization of students who

support those fighting for freedom and democracy in

Syria includes ideas for advocacy and a downloadable fact

sheet: http://organize4syria.com/wp-

content/uploads/2015/01/Factsheet-Full-Page.pdf .

SYRIAN ARAB NEWS AGENCY

http://sana.sy/en

The English version of the Syrian government news

outlet’s website provides coverage of the conflict from the

perspective of the Assad administration.

SYRIA DEEPLY

www.syriadeeply.org

An independent digital media project dedicated to

the conflict in Syria.

SYRIAN OBSERVATORY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

http://syriahr.com/en

The website of a Britain-based collective of pro-

democracy people inside and outside Syria aggregates

news stories and reports on human rights in Syria.

SYRIA UNTOLD

www.syriauntold.com/en/about-syria-untold

Through this independent media project, a team of Syrian

writers, journalists, programmers and designers living in

the country and abroad explore the Syrian struggle and

diverse forms of resistance.

Outside Perspectives

COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS:

“BACKGROUNDER: SYRIA’S CRISIS

AND THE GLOBAL RESPONSE.”

http://www.cfr.org/syria/syrias-crisis-global-response/p28402

An overview on the conflict and Syria, and international re-

sponses.

INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF WAR: “THE FREE

SYRIAN ARMY”

www.understandingwar.org/report/free-syrian-army

This March 2013 report considers the history and status of

the Free Syrian Army from the perspective of a non-

partisan public policy research institute focused on the

development of U.S. military strategy.

RESOURCES

|22DISCUSSION GUIDE

Return to Homs

FILMMAKER WEBSITE

www.returntohoms.com

The film’s official website offers information about the film and the experiences of those who made it.

Original Online Content on POV To enhance the broadcast, POV has produced an interactive website to enable viewers to explore the film in greater

depth. The Return to Homs website—www.pbs.org/pov/returntohoms — offers a streaming video trailer for the film;

an interview with the filmmaker; a list of related websites, articles and books; a downloadable discussion guide; a

standards-aligned lesson plan; a downloadable reading list; and special features.

THE GUARDIAN: “ARAB SPRING: AN INTERACTIVE

TIMELINE OF MIDDLE EAST PROTESTS”

www.theguardian.com/world/interactive/2011/mar/22/middle-east-protest-interactive-timeline

This timeline of the events of the Arab Uprisings and

government responses includes events in Syria.

UNITED NATIONS INDEPENDENT

INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY

ON THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC

www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/IICISyria/Pages/IndependentInternationalCommission.aspx

This website provides reports on the Syrian conflict from

the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE:

“U.S. RELATIONS WITH SYRIA”

www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3580.htm

This official U.S. government website offers an overview of

U.S.-Syrian relations, including a set of links to additional

information on Syria.

RESOURCES

|23DISCUSSION GUIDE

Return to Homs

The city of Homs.


HOW TO BUY THE FILM

To order Return to Homs, visit http://www.returntohoms.com/---!sales

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Front cover: Protagonist Basset Al-Sarout rests in a bombedout apartment building in shattered Homs. Photo courtesy of Proaction Film & Ventana Films

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