Survivor Stories

Today (21 August) is International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, a day established by the UN General Assembly to honour the victims and survivors of terrorism. To mark this, the Global Coalition Against Daesh is releasing a special episode of its award-winning podcast Taking Apart Terror, narrated by Omar Mohammed, a historian and extremism researcher famed for his anonymous blog ‘Mosul Eye.’ The podcast delves into the human stories behind acts of terrorism, exploring resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity. 

Omar Mohammed garnered international recognition for his courageous reporting from Mosul during Daesh's occupation, during which he documented the brutal realities of life under terrorist rule. His blog became one of the few unfiltered windows into the atrocities committed in Mosul, relied upon by journalists, policymakers, and humanitarian organisations alike. 

In Taking Apart Terror, Mohammed continues his mission of shedding light on the human cost of extremism, by interviewing survivors of terrorist attacks. Among them is Mayssam, a resident of Mosul who lived through Daesh's occupation, Travis, a survivor of the 2017 Westminster Bridge attack, and Officer B, an Australian counterterrorism officer who was stabbed in the line of duty in 2014. We also hear from Mayssa Rekhis, an anthropologist and medical doctor, who helps us understand the complex emotional and mental challenges survivors face. 

Through these deeply personal interviews, Mohammed explores how individuals cope both during and following an act of terrorism. The podcast offers listeners an intimate look at how individuals navigate the aftermath of terror, finding strength and resilience in what is often a messy, non-linear path to ‘recovery.’ It also gives us an insight into why Mohammed risked everything to create his blog: his actions mirror his deeply held belief that terrorism is an aberration, and goodness and resilience are the true markers of humanity: 

“It is too easy to believe, but also very wrong to believe, that [terrorism] is the true nature of humanity,” says Mohammed. “I would rather believe that our true nature if reflected in our ability to persevere, and to rally around those who need us.”  

Taking Apart Terror challenges the notion that terrorism defines our world, instead highlighting the enduring human spirit and the importance of supporting those who have been affected by these tragic events.

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