Ar-Raqqa is the capital of the governorate of the same name on the Middle Euphrates River in northern Syria. In mid-2013, the city was captured by the al-Nusra Front and Islamic State organizations by driving out the Free Syrian Army. It was considered the largest city under the control of the Islamic State and was designated as their unofficial capital. Raqqa was considered the command center and main military base of IS until its recapture on October 17, 2017. During the rule of IS any kind of art was forbidden. Sharia ruled every moment of the private lives of many inhabitants of the self-proclaimed caliphate. Thus, any kind of art, music and poetry was punished with absurd penalties. Many people like Jumua al-Hamu People defied the prohibitions and continued to work. He buried his works in his yard. After the victory over the jihadists, art returns from the underground. Sculptor Jumua al-Hamu faced death in Rakka, Syria. Today he can work freely again - but corruption, mistrust and the threat of new fighting make a return to normality difficult.

2019