Education & Syria researcher Syria Lead @ PAXhttps://bsky.app/profile/benoitemartin.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/benoitemartin.bsky.social/post/3lxzf4h52ms27 “Cairo writes, Beirut publishes and Baghdad reads” But does Beirut publish much anymore? The sad tale and struggles of bookshops of Beirut. https://newlinesmag.com/spotlight/inside-beiruts-fight-to-save-its-reading-culture/ https://newlinesmag.com/spotlight/inside-beiruts-fight-to-save-its-reading-culture/?mc_cid=ec628887f0&mc_eid=d5a14f7ece04 Sep 2025 14:45 +0000at://did:plc:v76aaxywsap6rislydbdwf7i/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxzf4h52ms27https://bsky.app/profile/benoitemartin.bsky.social/post/3lxxda3mmas2dA bold move from the AANES who officially bans the use of the GoS curriculum in all public and private schools in NES. This is undoubtedly going to generate a lot of community pushback in the coming days. npasyria.com/en/129244/ https://npasyria.com/en/129244/03 Sep 2025 19:06 +0000at://did:plc:v76aaxywsap6rislydbdwf7i/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxxda3mmas2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/benoitemartin.bsky.social/post/3luzec6uxys25Refugee Protection Watch monitors the situation of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon and identifies challenges to return to Syria. Lack of security, lack of economic opportunities, lack of schooling and HLP violations were identified as barriers to safe and voluntary return. https://achrights.org/en/2025/06/12/15759/#:~:text=Refugee%20Protection%20Watch%202025%20offers,return%20remains%20far%20from%20achievable.28 Jul 2025 10:14 +0000at://did:plc:v76aaxywsap6rislydbdwf7i/app.bsky.feed.post/3luzec6uxys25https://bsky.app/profile/benoitemartin.bsky.social/post/3lsf25n6gy22kEssential read. "Now more than ever, the Iranian people are calling for global empathy—to be seen, to be heard, to have their death toll counted alongside that of their Israeli counterparts." https://www.thenation.com/article/world/iranian-people-abandoned-war-israel/24 Jun 2025 21:29 +0000at://did:plc:v76aaxywsap6rislydbdwf7i/app.bsky.feed.post/3lsf25n6gy22khttps://bsky.app/profile/benoitemartin.bsky.social/post/3ls7odppqoc24Terrible news coming from Damascus as a suicide attack was reportedly conducted at Mar Elias church in a neighbourhood east of the old city during prayer time. A horrific crime. My heart are with the victims and their families.22 Jun 2025 18:15 +0000at://did:plc:v76aaxywsap6rislydbdwf7i/app.bsky.feed.post/3ls7odppqoc24https://bsky.app/profile/benoitemartin.bsky.social/post/3lrog2shkxk2xSullam for nonviolence is a newly established group founded by activists from across Syria. It unites youth from diverse backgrounds who share a strong commitment to peaceful change. Sullam seeks to challenge the normalization of violence and foster an inclusive, just, and peaceful future for Syria.15 Jun 2025 21:31 +0000at://did:plc:v76aaxywsap6rislydbdwf7i/app.bsky.feed.post/3lrog2shkxk2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/benoitemartin.bsky.social/post/3lrofwog44k2xA few weeks back, I was lucky to participate in a workshop organized by @ulsteruni.bsky.social and Koya University at CUQ Ulster University in Doha. The workshop brought together members of the Education, Peace and Politics (EPP) network to develop policy papers based on our doctoral research.15 Jun 2025 21:29 +0000at://did:plc:v76aaxywsap6rislydbdwf7i/app.bsky.feed.post/3lrofwog44k2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/benoitemartin.bsky.social/post/3lrofpv3q3c2xThe book "Governance of Resistance in Northern Syria, the experience of Rojava" has been announced for publishing in December 2025! My chapter is titled: "The role of education in conflict: how AANES’s education policies fuel grievances in North and East Syria". https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/governance-of-resistance-in-north-and-east-syria-9780755654918/15 Jun 2025 21:25 +0000at://did:plc:v76aaxywsap6rislydbdwf7i/app.bsky.feed.post/3lrofpv3q3c2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/benoitemartin.bsky.social/post/3lrofjvo3l22j🎙️ New Podcast: Beyond the Headlines: On the Ground in Syria Recorded by Development and Peace - Caritas Canada: We discussed the vital role of local organizations in fostering dialogue and strengthening democratic participation. 🎧 Listen now: https://soundcloud.com/user-854257025/beyond-the-headlines-on-the-ground-in-syria15 Jun 2025 21:22 +0000at://did:plc:v76aaxywsap6rislydbdwf7i/app.bsky.feed.post/3lrofjvo3l22jhttps://bsky.app/profile/benoitemartin.bsky.social/post/3lrof7gmduk2jIn February 2025, I was able to return to Damascus after fourteen years. I found a city at a crossroads: hope and relief about the end of the dictatorship, but also great worries about the future. (Blogpost written before the terrible massacres on Syrian coast) https://paxforpeace.nl/news/our-first-visit-to-damascus-after-fourteen-years/15 Jun 2025 21:16 +0000at://did:plc:v76aaxywsap6rislydbdwf7i/app.bsky.feed.post/3lrof7gmduk2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/benoitemartin.bsky.social/post/3ljoxqzkq722wAs Syrian children returning from neighboring countries to Syria resume school, they face a number of difficulties linked to having studied a different language, a different curriculum and suffering from trauma. https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2025/03/challenges-hinder-integration-of-syrian-students-returning-from-turkey/06 Mar 2025 07:26 +0000at://did:plc:v76aaxywsap6rislydbdwf7i/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljoxqzkq722whttps://bsky.app/profile/benoitemartin.bsky.social/post/3ljmcaeqjs22q🚨 It is Time to Support Syrian Civil Society 🚨 @paxforpeace.nl calls upon the EU and member states to prioritize the support of Syrian civil society and civil activists. They are key actors in a Syrian-led inclusive transition. https://paxforpeace.nl/news/now-is-the-time-to-support-syrian-civil-society https://paxforpeace.nl/news/now-is-the-time-to-support-syrian-civil-society/?fbclid=IwY2xjawI0xodleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZ2Ekwjgm6REGMW2OmmrjbvRahv-svUzUCVK9PHKoDne5DpLtIQp16QGow_aem_OTB8y39zJAJEf6ijo7KHNA05 Mar 2025 05:56 +0000at://did:plc:v76aaxywsap6rislydbdwf7i/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljmcaeqjs22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/benoitemartin.bsky.social/post/3ljkdojsn5s24How Syrian university students in Tel Abyad and Ras El Ain have been cut off from access to their universities post 2019. In Sept 2024, a private university opened in Tel Abyad offering the only opportunity for higher education in this part of Syria. https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2025/02/students-of-tal-abyad-and-ras-al-ain-deprived-of-university-education/04 Mar 2025 11:16 +0000at://did:plc:v76aaxywsap6rislydbdwf7i/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljkdojsn5s24https://bsky.app/profile/benoitemartin.bsky.social/post/3lj3c2ylmv226The pedagogy of hope... Syrian students return and resume their university studies after many years of interruption. https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2025/02/after-long-absence-university-students-resume-studies-in-syria/26 Feb 2025 11:38 +0000at://did:plc:v76aaxywsap6rislydbdwf7i/app.bsky.feed.post/3lj3c2ylmv226https://bsky.app/profile/benoitemartin.bsky.social/post/3lggc7xs7jk2vSWANA Forum for Social Justice is organizing a webinar to discuss the role of education in post-Assad Syria. Join us on Friday, January 31 at 5pm U.K time / 8pm Syria time. I will discuss the politics of education in Northeast Syria. Registration Link: lnkd.in/dd_bBJiS23 Jan 2025 16:24 +0000at://did:plc:v76aaxywsap6rislydbdwf7i/app.bsky.feed.post/3lggc7xs7jk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/benoitemartin.bsky.social/post/3lgfg757b4s2vTime for @paxforpeace.bsky.social to rethink how to best work with Syrians and Syrian civil society to build sustainable peace in an inclusive Syria: looking back at the work done in the last 23 years and ensuring we continue to be daring and innovative in mobilizing activists, building movements.23 Jan 2025 08:03 +0000at://did:plc:v76aaxywsap6rislydbdwf7i/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgfg757b4s2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/benoitemartin.bsky.social/post/3lbx54nrppc2cAs the ceasefire goes into effect in #Lebanon, many have been able to return to their villages towards the South and check on their houses and belongings. A friend has reported mixed feelings: sad anger about this deal but appreciation as airstrikes have stopped and being able to return.27 Nov 2024 18:02 +0000at://did:plc:v76aaxywsap6rislydbdwf7i/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbx54nrppc2c