Afət Ziyadqızı
Syrian citizen Amr bin Mustafa Alwan built a special wall across the entrance to the room housing his extensive library in Homs in October 2011, before fleeing the former regime and the threat of war and seeking refuge in Kuwait.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing foreign media outlets.
According to the reports, nearly 15 years later, the elderly man returned to his homeland and used a hammer to dismantle the brick wall he had built, bringing to light a collection of rare religious and philosophical works that he had hidden years earlier. Footage released online shows that hundreds of books were fully protected from moisture, dust and the destructive effects of war, preserving their original condition.
The incident drew considerable interest and emotional reactions on social media. It has been described as a symbolic image of the tragic period that followed the civil war that began in 2011 and forced millions of Syrians to leave the country.
Libraries and private book collections in Syria faced significant risks during the conflict, as many homes, cultural institutions and historical sites were damaged or abandoned. Alwan’s decision to conceal his books illustrates the efforts made by individuals to preserve cultural and intellectual heritage during years of displacement and insecurity.
