Abdalaziz Alhamza

Abdalaziz Alhamza (sometimes Aziz Alhamza, Abdul Aziz Al-Hamza, Abdel Aziz al-Hamza; born in Raqqa, 1991), is a Syrian journalist, human rights defender activist and IT trainer. He is the CEO and one of the leaders of The NewNow which is a global group of rising leaders tackling the world’s toughest challenges. He is also the founder and spokesperson of Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS) which is a nonpartisan, independent organization that exposes the atrocities committed by ISIS & other groups in Syria as well as the Syrian government. Alhamza started non-violent protests and demonstrations against the Syrian government in 2011 and was arrested by the government three times in 2012. The Islamic State Group (ISIS) interrogated him more than one time about his activism. After ISIS took control of his hometown, Raqqa in January 2014, he escaped to Turkey and started Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS) with his friends to show the reality of life in Raqqa and ISIS. Alhamza was awarded the Wonder of Humanity award by Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Unite. in 2015, Alhamza received CPJ International Press Freedom Awards by the Committee to Protect Journalists and was named a Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy. In 2016, he has awarded the Ischia International Journalism Award, Civil Courage Prize and other awards on behalf of RBSS. Alhamza was featured in "City of Ghosts" a documentary that followed the Journey of Alhamza and his colleagues. Alhamza graduated with a degree in biochemistry from the faculty of science in Raqqa which is part of Al-Furat University.

In January 2016, the International Business Times described RBSS as "the most reliable source of information from inside Raqqa." German historian Michael Wolffsohn has compared RBSS to White Rose, the resistance organization during the Third Reich.

On February 18, 2016, Alhamza was described as being 24 years old.

Career

Alhamza wrote many articles about Syria and Raqqa, especially focusing on the Islamic State. One of his most prominent articles appeared in The New York Times, "Bombs May Not Defeat ISIS (but Maybe the Internet Will)".

Alhamza wrote an op-ed and letter to the president of the United States of America Donald Trump which was published on Fox News.

Alhamza is an International Security Program fellow at New America (organization), he is also a fellow and Next Generation Leader at the McCain Institute. While he was a student, he organized nonviolent protests against the Syrian government.

RBSS

Alhamza acted as a media activist and organizer of nonviolent protests during the early period of the uprising against the Assad regime, Alhamza was arrested by Syrian authorities three times in 2012. After ISIS took over Raqqa in January 2014, that group also allegedly interrogated him on multiple occasions. Under threat from both the Assad and ISIS camps, Alhamza escaped to Turkey, where he and other journalists founded RBSS. Threats from the Islamic State in Turkey caused him to flee to Germany. In January 2016, the International Business Times stated that 17 RBSS members were "working inside Raqqa." He spoke at the International Journalism Festival in April 2016.

Writing for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette In February 2017, Garry Kasparov and Thor Halvorssen noted Alhamaza's work as a "noble struggle against tyranny...despite the danger"

Film City of Ghosts

Alhamza is featured in City of Ghosts, directed, produced, and filmed by Academy Award–nominated and Emmy–winning filmmaker Matthew Heineman. City Of Ghosts was listed as one of 15 out of 170 submitted films included in the Oscar Documentary Feature shortlist for the 2018 awards.

City of Ghosts follows the journey of Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently – a handful of anonymous activists who banded together after their homeland was taken over by ISIS in 2014. With deeply personal access, the film follows them as they face the realities of life undercover, on the run, and in exile all whilst risking their lives.