How Syria's architecture laid the foundation for brutal war | Marwa Al-Sabouni

What caused the war in Syria? Oppression, drought and religious differences all played key roles, but Marwa Al-Sabouni suggests another reason: architecture. Speaking to us over the Internet from Homs, where for the last six years she has watched the war tear her city apart, Al-Sabouni suggests that Syria's architecture divided its once tolerant and multicultural society into single-identity enclaves defined by class and religion. The country's future now depends on how it chooses to rebuild.
TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more.
Find closed captions and translated subtitles in many languages at www.ted.com/translate
Follow TED news on Twitter: / tednews
Like TED on Facebook: / ted
Subscribe to our channel: / tedtalksdirector

[@farahsofiah7520]

Talked to my mum a lot about how impacting architecture is. She said that it connects people and bring people together and such, which is why she expresses a dislike towards tall buildings. But I never realised how much it can emotionally and socially impact people. Thank you so much Ted for sharing this talk with us. I want to become an architect in the future and help to rebuild Syria.

[@nicolasarenas8988]

Great video it was enlightening. I hope we can hear more from you in the future.

[@ArtArtisian]

+

[@AvailableUsernameTed]

+

[@ii-vt3ji]

+

[@francineleahy]

+

[@dalevlog]

WOW people in the comment section are the smartest people in the world.. I am so glad I scrolled down to glimpse the intelligence of so many people . . . . . . . . . . ........ . . . . . ......

[@juliahenriques210]

Spot on. The distance between private space, public space, and third space can and does lead to social isolation, and thus differentiation, to the point where the community fragments itself. It happens in cities all around the world. Some places just happen to be more vulnerable to disintegration because of other factors, like Syria.

[@NizarElZarif]

I just know the comment section is gonna be lovely and supporting as always

[@TheOnceAndFutureDoug]

Hahahahaha *sobs*

[@BLNChrisCross]

yep know that feeling ^^

[@fredrikkarner4115]

I won't even scroll down

[@edi9892]

Sometimes the comment section makes me question humanity. In a Ted talk about the Brexit it was clear that many disliked the video and wrote horrible comments without even watching the first 2min (in which he made some statements which the commenters didn't expect thus revealing their ignorance).

[@matheuscardoso1]

+edi what video is this, bro?

[@octane2344]

School of Life's video "How to Make an Attractive City" has a lot of tips on how to build an attractive city that promotes spontaneous human interaction. which includes public squares, closely built buildings with porches and balconies encouraging interaction, and architecture which contributes to the beauty of the surrounding area as well as allowing opportunities to appreciate the landscape.

[@ahmad123135]

Im going to try and discuss this issue as objectively as possible. I am an 18 years old Syrian living in Germany, and I do realize that my opinion does not reflect that of the Syrian society. The main reason as to why there is a huge division in perspectives is due to the lack of education and the complete blind belief in sectarian/conservative religions. What led to this senseless war? You ask. Well for a start, the massacres which the regime has committed against its own people speak for itself. I still do firmly believe that this is no war, this is a revolution and we need HOPE! Ps: stop talking about isis because isis is only in very small parts of Syria however the media concentration on the issue is immense, thus over exaggerating the numbers and strength of isis.

[@BLNChrisCross]

+

[@theoppsareafterme]

Your dumb flag is also ISIS you are a different side of the same coin. DEATH TO ISLAMISM! LONG LIVE SYRIA!

[@armagtube]

what revo? ur gonna s.korea or what?

[@louisvalencia5244]

Soooo, Do you speak German Arab and English?

[@ryancroke8785]

+rim R Islamism?? If your gonna troll at least put some effort into it 😒

[@ionlymadethistoleavecoment1723]

what's with all the hate for Islam? I feel like all these people spreading fear and hatred of Muslims have never met one. They aren't some crazy people trying to kill everyone. They're just people with religious views. the problem is with those that twist the meaning of Islam, which judging from Muslims I've met, is a religion of peace.

[@notsquirrel8141]

I am muslim and agree. The majority of us mean no harm and despise ISIS as much as you if not more

[@ionlymadethistoleavecoment1723]

+Not Squirrel honestly I feel so bad for you. because that stuff sticks to your religion. Sadly the first thing people think of when they hear "Muslim" is a gun. that's not right. It's gotten to the point where people even get upset if someone should say "God is great". There's nothing intrinsically wrong with that statement. as a Christian, I would agree with it.

[@francineleahy]

+

[@mostafarefath7446]

it must be very heart breaking to observe the destroyed infrastructure. As an architect, the sense of this explicit dimension to connect is painful. Hats off to your contribution, much inspiring. 👌

[@roidroid]

What she is saying also has an analogue with Israel and Palestine. Prior to the establishment of Israel, Jews and Muslims lived in the area in a peaceful and multicultural setting. But then Israel was established as a land exclusively for the Jewish people. It created distinctions and walls between people where previously there was none :( There is no need to erect these walls between people.

[@AhmedEkri]

Amazing move from TED, it challenges all barriers and makes TED talks available from everywhere.

[@jbZahl]

I'm not shure weather architecture is more a reason or a symptom of the changes society undergoes. But I'm with her on rebuilding. It can mark a restart. Let's hope Architects and citybuilders will soon shape Syrian cities and not violence and destruction.

[@shori11137]

Yes ! , She is absolutely true , how can we live in a place of belonging does not feel towards him ? How can we accept palace built beside the shanty houses or scanty . Each of these revolutions in the Middle East due to the loss of a sense of belonging to the place , whether class or even doctrine , as we take into account the psyche, into account the psyches of others are human; beings probably better than us, but do not have , such as what we have !

[@SamiAchouri]

Wow your plans for Baba are really inspirational, as a future architect I can see how your plans cater to the people rather than just give a nice appearance. Your philosophy towards the issue is also amazing since first hand, you can see what the public needs to reform and how architecture can help this by reuniting and redeveloping the town old to bring back familiar qualities in architecture and atmosphere rather than refreshing the image and flushing out the old - I praise you for this

[@PanchoVanilla1]

[Banging my head on the table...] If "opposition; drought and religious differences" were the major causes of conflict, then creating new architecture is going to remove those key elements that cause the war in the first place? I remember something Hillary Clinton said a while back that had the same cozy, warm and fuzzy - makes ya feel good" affect: "It takes a Village...." Dreamers keep on dreaming, but please do not spread your visions around "as if" it is up to "U.S." to expect Middle East conflicts that have been going on for centuries - we can't even take care of our own!

[@joesands3613]

What a great concept to develop a city in the light of the alternative standard square block. Hope you do get your idea accepted and keep it up.

[@humblegiant3513]

Her talk was really easy to understand because she was just so genuine. It is not easy to have your voice heard in an already war-torn country and represent it. I hope more people get to see this, as well as know more of what's happening in Syria.

[@julian3bk]

The emotional value of architecture has been neglected for far too long

[@mustafaonah9704]

the right way is to provide a service a function based on science which can sav emoney for companies and then provid what ever emotional values that are needed not the opposite.

[@livinginvancouverbc2247]

Excellent and thought-provoking video. Thank you.

[@peterkung6793]

She was right to said that 'Rows of isolated tower blocks promote integration, isolation and otherness. I am 60 years old and have been living in different isolated tower blocks during my last 50 years life time. I hate it and have no sense of belonging. I still miss the small room I used to live before I was 10 years old. I miss my neighborhood who have played with me, given me candy and helped me when I fell.

[@KyokosCloset]

This video made me cry. So invaluable.

[@Jaylade]

Very interesting, thank you Marwa

[@jaideeprayapudi]

Amazing concept. Wish more people listen to this.

[@beliasphyre3497]

While I don't believe architecture is the primary factor in in causing conflict, any and every avenue to reduce hostilities without infringing on human rights should be explored. Using civil engineering and architecture to promote community interaction sounds like a good idea. My only problem is ideologies that persist in dominating all other ideologies around them have difficulty coexisting.

[@pyayaXC]

What I don't understand is how architecture that incorporates themes of inclusiveness and affection for local communities can achieve the efficiency necessary for urban working and living spaces. Providing utilities and safe structures that can support the population density needed for an high-functioning urban economy has only been achieved via the layout of "freestanding disconnected blocks." Anyone in the comments section have examples that challenge this notion? I pray for you and your family's safety as well as for the success of your challenging endevors as an acrchitect Mrs. Al-Sabouni

[@elisealkhaddour3210]

Great analysis! Thank you Marwa.

[@JavierDerteano]

The thing is that wars are big business for arms and buildings industries, so after the war building companies will speculate with the land and build as cheap as possible as they did before.

[@petlahk4119]

This is a great video by a proud, and forward thinking woman. I hope the UN approves a design that, if not hers, shares the same vision of fostering community through architecture.

[@vorlonagent]

One possible problem I can see is the distrust and anger that has now grown up between the groups that make up Lebanon or Homs. People might might have blended before the war might now only see their neighbors as enemies who killed family members.

[@noviceprepper5397]

good ideas, good talk, thank you

[@thijsjong]

Excellent presentation!

[@ArtArtisian]

+

[@Nwmguy]

+

[@HapukaTheDutchman]

+

[@petlahk4119]

+

[@XSpImmaLion]

I love the perspective, insight, and vision plus inspiration to rebuild a better more integrated Syria, and I think several other cities around the world could take the idea to heart on urban planning and community building... but I have to admit I find it a bit disingenuous to tag the ongoing war on poor architecture. Part of it, perhaps, but I'd say it's either a minor problem compared to the whole, or more like a symptom of the bigger problems. And while architecture, urban planning, and thinking differently about community integration helps, I don't think it's enough to prevent scenarios like Syria. Great cities with great civilizations rose and fell with civil wars, and in some cases, we're only left with the ruins of great architecture to look at afterwards. Of course, everyone is welcome to have a different perspective on this, but imho if we don't want cases like Syria ever happening again... it just seems to me that we have to dig deeper than this.

[@joshuaracey7967]

Love the drawings...more please!

[@notsquirrel8141]

Great video

[@trall22]

is sounds like over-simplification of reasons for war

[@ExotiC255]

So what I take from this talk: - Her husband is an architect - Homs and other big cities in Syria are destroyed - the previous architecture was supporting war actions - the destroyed cities now need to be rebuild - the right idea how to prevent war supporting structures is owned by Marwa Al-Sabouni I wonder who would profit from this if it would be decided that the architecture must be changed.....

[@DeAdmiralPanda]

ideas are not owned, period.

[@JosephGamacheKD0AHS]

+DeAdmiralPanda Intellectual Property laws tend to disagree with you. Ideas *shouldn't* be owned, but many are.

[@123bamboom]

Yes they are wtf

[@armagtube]

who did design syrias past cities?

[@Orlafis]

To put in a few words: Before the french urbanization process in Syria people from several different religious and cultural backgrounds would live in the same neighborhoods and interact daily. The french urbanization process in Syria separated, and alienated people from their neighbors. Whats the result of this? they start to feel disconnected from each other, they stop to think about people with different backgrounds as fellow Syrians, and started to see them as Jews, Cristians, different sects of Islam so on, and so on. Coming to think about it, I believe that's also can be the reason why my country, Brazil, never really had problems with all the diverse nationalities of immigrants we always had, because people would just settle wherever they could, so no separation, everyone mashed together interacting everyday, so we could see that everyone is just people like us.

[@juligrlee]

The real causes of war are not only social, political and economic but also to a large degree, religious. Our belief systems create hatreds and help us believe we should take retribution. I firmly believe the solution to many wars has to begin with putting religion in its place which is as a private matter, not something that we should wear on our sleeve, our head, or what kind of weapon we sling over our shoulder.

[@markphc99]

'Hopefully the war will end '- all the signs point to it continuing indefinitely ,but the speaker made some good points about architecture.

[@sanekabc]

I can see that architecture can help but ending the beliefs which divide people is far more important.

[@issasuwedi8082]

Amazing 💖

[@x2highx]

I wish you all the luck in the World. It's sad what's happening in your Country.

[@raviormetal1653]

I feel like it makes a lot of sense what she sais. I personally feel that the sense of being excluded from a group of people can be one of the worst feelings one can experience. If the way we build our cities supports us local communities finding together, we should surely do that. I also have to say that I was not that familiar with the fact that the syrian war is actually small groups (like from certain neighborhoods) against other groups, I just knew there where the IS and didnt realize that theyre simply somewhat ethnic small groups that exist in many cities but are connected to each other, just not to theire actual neighbors... I see problems like this where I live too. I'm in germany and theres certain groups here too that are isolated on their own instead of feeling included. Of course our cities are divided in different areas too. Mabye just because some architects made it themselves a little to simple by spreading out the larger cities which automatically generates distances (which can act like borders) between the different areas...

[@pinegulf]

Holy damn. What did the French Build? Moats, barbed wire and watchtowers? I'd really like To see some citations about the claims.

[@QamarBajwa]

i always think about this issue while discussing the urban fabric but now with such a huge effort by you finally reached to discourage the reverse evolutionary development (Urban planning and architecture characters and identity of a city) Betterment of cities cause a great damage to every individual and humanity is at stake. #LoveforallHatredfornone

[@srket864]

The Architecture of your Brain and mindset is what laid the foundation for the brutal war ...

[@turtleshell0]

wow lol some of these comments are disgusting

[@turtleshell0]

including mine

[@turtleshell0]

jk

[@Gordenfremaniswahaj1]

A war is occurring between falsehood and the truth.While falsehood persists for a while eventually the truth will win for falsehood is bound to perish by its nature.Only time will tell who is right.

[@firebird95driver]

the solution is eco-investment that could revitalize the community with local tech-growning farming markets, similar to off the grid communities. War, oil, gold, opium, weapons, all stem to selfish interests.

[@Gonz0131]

Coincidence does not prove causality. Sure, architecture often reflects a society and what is happening in it, but to somehow blame architecture for causing war is disingenuous. War can, and has, broken out in beautiful and ugly places, urban and rural places, suburbia and dense urban centres. The contributions that architecture can make are great, and there are some wonderful ideas here, but it won't stop war.

[@nanialba1126]

Wonderful!

[@bertwesler1181]

Her talk is interesting and on the basis of harmony, for future planning, sure, it would be helpful to integrate people in the neighborhoods. But it had nothing to do with the war. The war is about money, power and a gas pipeline, not architecture, religion, race. The war would have happened no matter the structure of the city. I very much like the idea of intermingled neighborhoods; but it did not act as a cause of this war. This war was Russia, the USA and the geographical location.

[@lacosa4597]

Nice use of a teleprompter. ....

[@attilazk]

And she is talking b..sh.. just like the presidents who use it (in the US).

[@lacosa4597]

+FREAQU if you believe that then -- oh, forget it..

[@abdelmoutaal6661]

اللهم انصر إخواننا في الشام

[@baardman1982]

city living by nature is an isolated experience. if you want a sense of community and belonging, you should live in the rural country side, where everybody knows you. architecture is not the answer to social problems. sure, good architecture is pleasing to the eye and comfortable to live in, but real social problems stems from other sources. my thoughts.

[@Stellanorthmediaproductions]

Wow... so crazy.

[@swapw]

Urbanism as she claims it is a precursor for war? Architecture from the French is the cause for the hatred in Syria? Doesn't make any sense whatsoever. Urbanism is the reason she's on youtube and modernization is the reason she has the means to still communicate instead of living in a hut. If harmony is defined by living in poverty and farmlands, she should live in North Korea and see how happiness really defined under a dictator. Syria, prior to being modernized is under a tyrant and if she still appreciates that then that just tells you how brainwashed these people are.

[@UndeniableGamer]

You misunderstood what she was saying, please rewatch the video. Plus, you have no clue what your talking about there with how people lived in the middle east so please leave that topic alone

[@swapw]

Please enlighten me, what exactly would you define what she has said that differs from my comment above? Bashar Hafez al-Assad's dad was the president before he became the president, if he or his family is not a dictator who truly takes away freedom then who is? What's the difference between him and a king in the old ages? I assume you are of middle eastern origin, had you been in Syria do you think you had a fighting chance to become the president? Sadly, I think not and not even the wealthy would because it is not ruled in a truly democratic fashion.

[@UndeniableGamer]

+swapw i just wish you would leave us alone, just leave us learn and progress and prosper!! Just leave us do our thing and live our lives but NO! You are so kind that you want to help us right?

[@ruedelta]

+swapw Her assertion is regarding a certain kind of urban planning that really wasn't that popular outside of Europe. The kind of class blending urban design was also common in Imperial China. Rich and poor would live in very close proximity, often with the poor being employed by the rich folk. It is also why you can find halal restaurants (run by Hui people) scattered all over Beijing as opposed to in their own little "town" (which is more characteristic of European/American urban design). As for your comment about having a fighting chance to become president, honestly you have no chance at all in any democratic country in the world, period. You really have to be born into power/fame/wealth because that is how opportunity works. There is *nothing* democratic about success and you can readily prove this by trying to run for the US presidency (or really any non-nominal political office, fortune 500 board of director seats, deans of any top 100 universities...).

[@swapw]

+Rufei Anywhere in the world where the rich blends with the poor is actually a great characteristic. That signals to you that the region is accepted by both and not segregated through class. Regarding your comment about the candidates from the US presidency on that they needed to be rich or highly educated (aristocratic in some way) is not necessary the case. Look up our current president Obama, I think that speaks volumes about democracy. Minority, middle class upbringing, very few places that are none democratic would have accepted a man like him in society or even the president. Now that's not to say that there's no division or opposition to his presidency, however the fact that he became president is the testament that a democratic government works better for the common people. Blaming imperialism for all problems is not a solution to something caused by the person ruling from the top. Recognizing that changes need to happen is the first step to the right direction.

[@DuAuskenner]

1:50 because of the "religion of peace" duhh

[@arpitranka23]

brilliant!

[@katherineliu298]

her english is amazing

[@TheVigilante2000]

Yeah it's all about the architecture (the architect clams). It's got nothing to do with being ruled by a minority religion sect called Alawites. The 92% non-Alawite love being ruled by a small religions minority.

[@jbmetrics42]

As much as it might seem easy to spread the blame to Western modernisation of Syrian cities, it is not related to its 'peacefulness' in any manner as the 'peacefulness' was artificially enforced by a ruthless and strong-armed dictatorship. Syria was held together by peace the way Yugoslavia, Iraq, Libya, and dozens of other countries around the world are held together by oppressive means. The 'Western solution' of democracy does not work in these regions which with the absence of such strong-armed government structures. The Western world did not provide solutions, they only provided arms and chaos to make matters worse. The proverbial 'straw that broke the camels back' was the ongoing drought. But a forest fire is never strong unless it already has fuel on the ground to burn. The 'fuel' was laid for decades in Syria. The rapid urbanisation and withdrawal from rural life created hives of inequality, unemployment, and hostility. The lack of equal access to infrastructure created a stark contrast between the haves and the have nots. The 'new poor' who were leaving rural areas hit hard by drought were facing hostility from the already overcrowded and high unemployment in urban cities. This is the 'fuel' that kept growing with a government ill-prepared to cope with the situation and fell back on traditional strong-armed tactics of putting their own armed forces against the population and feeling like they could control it (which even without outside intervention was not possible). The outside intervention from US, Russia, and to a lesser extent China and the supplying of arms was a recipe for disaster. Architecture can play a role, but without addressing the underlying problems faced by rapid urbanisation, the decline in natural resources due to climate change pressures, the reduced need for oil as we move from fossil fuels (a former big role in supplying Syria with funds) and the lack of a domestic economy to reduce the high level of unemployment and inequality will just add more 'fuel' for the next civil war in Syria.

[@sandovalribeiro8718]

this vídeo = all for me

[@ThinkingAvidly]

people downvoting because they are scared of their own ignorance.

[@b3nadry1]

War is the norm in most of the world and throughout history. Mrs. Sabouni does not make a compelling argument that architecture and colonialism is the cause of current conflicts. She needs to look at the history of violence in the middle east and throughout the world before and after the architecture of colonialism and accept it as the norm.

[@ubadaashaeib8237]

بداية : شكرا على مساهمتك في موقع TED يا مروى لكن ما تذكرينه عن الهندسة المعمارية في خلق الانسجام بين الناس يأتي في الدرجة السابعة والستين بعد المائة من اسباب قيام الثورات . الذي يحقق الرضا و يسهم في التعايش هو الشعور بالعدل الاسد و نظامه الاجرامي و منح الامتيازات لابناء طائفة بعينها هو ما فجر الوضع في سوريا انظري حولك في كل دول العالم : هل قامت ثورات في البلدان التي تحوي ناطحات سحاب كامريكا مثلا .. وهل تحقق السلم الاهلي في بلدان يعيش شعبها على ارصفة الطرقات بنغلاديش مثلا ؟؟؟ الجواب لا مساهمتك بعيدة عن الواقع مع كل التقدير والاحترام

[@mosamohamed7735]

I agree with you 😏

[@flydye45]

If you are a baker, the answer always seems to be 'bread'. If you are an architect...

[@Merto6]

architecture riiight

[@Moaad_gh]

الله ينتقم من العمائر المجرمة اللي دمرت سوريا وكل من عاونها من اسمنت وخرسانة وغيرها

[@hassanalinoo]

God help the Muslims

[@DevilBesideYouu]

really nice idea. a lot of western countries think that the world should operate in the way we do but there is growing levels of depression in urban areas and growing levels of racism shown by support for Donald Trump and Brexit (and many of the disgusting comments on this video). It will however be difficult to execute this idea effectively. I personally wouldn't put housing over the walkways because it kind of disconnects people from the real world and makes the urban landscape appear to be the only thing. I hope the new architecture will be successful in making the world a better place, and can set an example for other nations :)

[@DevilBesideYouu]

he isn't anti-terrorist, he's anti-mexican and anti-muslim and anti pretty much anyone who isn't a thick bigoted idiot

[@DevilBesideYouu]

well obviously, but that doesn't mean you should assume they all are. Some of them are racists and drug lords and terrorists but Trump seems to think they all are. But white people can be all those things too. for example, trump is bigot and i discriminate against that because he is using hatred and fear to rally power and it is a scary thing. leaders should be promoting peace and acceptance.

[@DevilBesideYouu]

+MrBigEnchilada Okay and how many UNARMED black people were shot?? yes those things those people did wete wrong but they were a retaliation to the larger scale racism that is absolutely going on and they are trying to get their voices heard. You cant use this as a reason to vote for this joke of a man, have you actually heard the things he's said? Do you think that building a wall between america and mexico, and banning Muslims from entering the country will increase tolerance and acceptance? will it bring peace to society? or will the segregation simply cause a rise in hate crime towards other races, and a rise in crime towards whites in retaliation? think about it.

[@inter3684]

Syrian war has been decisive in making islam popular

[@vixoaduo7288]

Dear Ms Marwa , unfortunately profit is behind everything and the kind of architecture you are dreaming about wont exist in middle east as in any other country in the world . People build buildings to make money and not to make the citizens to feel at home . Every city in europe is surrounded by ghettos where people are divided by class / religion or race . this is the world we asked for , we all trade are souls for a colour Tv and a cell phone .

[@freezatron]

what about a lack of art appreciation or global warming ....... Far King Stew Pid ......

[@FlamingoKicker]

This topic is the biggest load of crap. Architecture has nothing to do with planting bombs. But people will apologize for Islam forever apparently.

[@lxc647]

must be a hard time being an architect in syria right now. don't worry after they finished the demolition you guys will be more than busy. no need for self promotion on ted.

[@TY-vh5jx]

The content may offer an insight but the presentation was lacking in style, distracting from content. I couldn't finish watching.

[@caradare]

she's recording it in a war-trodden country and mentions limited access to internet & resources... it's worth watching to the end if you can make it past the limitations of 'style'...

[@mossematters]

why does the US have to be involved anyway?

[@Bauks]

Based solely on the horrible title..."How Syria's architecture laid the foundation for brutal war" This talk is utter drivel .....

[@Ahmad-rn1rl]

عربي

[@Kianquenseda]

Unwanted and arrogant invasion is always the beginning of the end.

[@realsandeep]

Seems like playing medal of honor when i see syria.. Do they respawn ?

[@vanaziz5995]

Na they stay dead like your sense of humor...

[@alisalloum9893]

😑😑😑😑😑😑😑

[@SolangeZomer]

Excelente! Tá tudo ligado sim. Partilhando!

[@dracolithfiend3121]

I am sorry segregation does not come from architecture but from culture.

[@caradare]

she's trying to say it can partially exacerbate cultural problems and divisions, not that it is the sole cause.

[@deeligee]

It's the snackbar on her head :P

[@trentonbilyeu]

first

[@SurfingW]

what a waste of 10 minutes

[@larshaji6117]

كانك نسيتي بشار الاسد

[@1360gamer]

Long live president Bashar Al-assad!!!!!

[@daddyleon]

While in solitary confinement? No.. that's a bit too much, I think.

[@Isa-jp8gz]

Why?Syria's a shithole now

[@interactazhar]

Long live Assad, Short live Syrians

[@raziqilmi2709]

long live assad short live syria. nice

[@kyledolor5257]

What was the reason Assad used violence towards the Arab Spring protesters? I like a first-hand answer from one of the Syrians here.

[@physiatristonline]

ted propaganda shame

[@CHAS1422]

LoL...the French colonial Architecture is the cause of the civil war...Try again. The Islamic world has always been in such wars. It was the cause of the Muslim Brotherhood back in the 1980's (against Hafez Assad), to re-establish the caliphate left abandoned when Abdulmecid II abdicated in 1924 at the behest of Ataturk. In 1801 the Wahhabi allied with the Ibn Saud attacked the Shiites of Karbala for the same reasons, and no modern Architecture existed. Architecture will not solve the tolerance problems of fundamental Islam.

[@216trixie]

Feminist claptrap.

[@caradare]

I don't think she mentions feminism at all - the talk is on architecture & war... perhaps you feel threatened by an intelligent and successful female figure and felt the need to post something negative? (even though it doesn't make any sense)

[@humblegiant3513]

Her talk was really easy to understand because she was just so genuine. It is not easy to have your voice heard in an already war-torn country and represent it. I hope more people get to see this, as well as know more of what's happening in Syria.