Author: Alejandro Matrán

In the bustling Iraqi city of Erbil, amidst the shining asphalt, a nondescript building houses a poignant story. Inside, 24-year-old Alaa unfolds the remnants of his past life in Syria – a life interrupted by tragedy and loss. As he navigates the uncertainties of his present in Iraq, Alaa grapples with the haunting memory of his brother, lost to the depths of a Syrian prison. Forced into hiding due to expiring documents, he finds solace in the company of fellow Syrians facing similar legal predicaments. With the looming threat of deportation and the daunting prospect of returning to a war-torn…