Event

Omar's Story: Surviving Syria's Prisons

Join us for an evening at Reel Pizza as we present an early screening of a work-in-progress documentary featuring Omar Alshogre, a Syrian activist and survivor of Assad's brutal prison system. The documentary, produced by a team led by COA students, is part of a Project for Peace initiative aimed at capturing the stories of those who survived Syria's prisons over the last decade.

This project comes just months after the mass release of long-detained Syrian prisoners in December 2024, a moment that filled the streets with celebrations and joy but reopened deep questions about justice, healing, and accountability. Through Omar's story, we explore the urgent need to support survivors and document the ongoing struggle for healing and recovery in Syria.

The evening will include:

A showing of selected scenes from the documentary and Omar's interview

A panel discussion with the filmmakers and Omar Alshogre

Date: Thursday, June 5th
Time: 7:15 PM
Location: Reel Pizza, Bar Harbor, ME
Admission: Suggested donation to Beyond Saydnaya

This event marks the soft launch of Beyond Saydnaya, a nonprofit initiative amplifying the voices of Syrian prison survivors through art, film, and direct support. Join us to be part of this journey toward justice and witness the stories that must be heard.