Qozhaya Shehwan

My name is Qozhaya. I was born in December 1951, in Northern Lebanon. I lived in the town of Batroun where I raised a family of four children with my wife and lead a quiet peaceful life. I would go to work at the Selaata chemical company, and then straight back home to help bathing the children and feeding them, and to spend time with them. I have one son and three daughters. My two-yearold, Micheline, would only fall asleep in my arms.

We managed to put some money aside and buy a plot of land. We had started to build the foundations for our new home. My greatest pleasure was to visit the land with my wife. As much as I enjoyed my family and my friends’s company I also enjoyed my solitude. Living by the sea was an added blessing. I loved hearing the waves break on the shore and watching the water glistening under the sun.

I was at work when I received a call from the Syrian intelligence services. They took me away and I never returned home.

My wife Naheel searched for me everywhere. She was finally able to see me only for a few minutes in a Syrian prison. After that, there was no more news about me.

My name is Qozhaya Shehwan. Do not let my story end here.