When you lose hope you have nothing

Kassem Eid fled from Syria to the USA where he testified at the Security Council about a Sarin gas attack in 2013 in which he almost died. Later he went to Germany where he works as a human rights activist and author.

Kassem Eid at our SBS studios in Melbourne Source: Sallie Butler

Born as the son of Palestinian refugees, Kassem Eid grew up on the outskirts of Damascus. On August 21, 2013, Kassem almost died in a Sarin gas attack that killed hundreds of civilians. Later that day, he picked up a weapon for the first time to join the free Syrian army and fight the government troops. In 2018 Kassem Eid wrote down his memories in the book "My Country. A Syrian Memoir". He reports about oppression, war, survival and flight. 

In the interview he speaks about his book, his fight against Assad’s regime, the right wing movement in Germany and Australia’s stand in handling refugees.