Raqia Hassan

Ruqia Hassan Mohammed (, ca. 1985 – ca. September 2015), also known by her pen name Nissan Ibrahim , was a Syrian independent journalist and blogger based in Raqqa, Syria. She was a member of the activist group known as Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently, and wrote frequently under the pen name Nissan Ibrahim . She is thought to be the first identified female citizen journalist executed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Personal Ruqia Hassan was born Ruqia Hassan Mohammed in 1985 in Raqqa, Syria. She came from a family of affluent Syrian Kurds, whose village of origin located close to the city of Kobani. Her father was a devout Muslim and businessman who kept several lots and buildings within Raqqa. Hassan's father married two women, she had one sister and five half-brothers from her father’s second wife. Hassan's sister is a doctor.

She graduated with a degree in philosophy from the University of Aleppo in Aleppo, Syria. In 2011, Hassan became an active and early member of the opposition to the president of Syria, Bashar al-Assad, after the start of the Syrian Civil War.

Career Hassan was mostly known for her informal and personal form of journalism. She provided updates concerning the city's worsening conditions and frequent airstrikes from the combined coalition and Russian forces.

The founder of RBSS, Abu Mohammed claims that he attempted to dissuade Hassan from continuing her posts; encouraging her to switch identities and remove personal photos of herself from her accounts. Others also claimed that they were worried that her posts would lead her to become a prominent target for the radical Jihadists; ultimately, she continued to post. According to members of RBSS, the group continued to be active on her Facebook account and stating she was still alive until early January 2016, just as news of her execution began to widely circulate.

She wrote in her final post to social media "I'm in Raqqa and I received death threats. When ISIL arrest me and kill me it's ok, because while they will cut off my head, I will have dignity, which is better than living in humiliation."

In 2014, ISIL gained control of the city of Raqqa, and was secured as the head of the Caliphate. Numerous recruits of the group from abroad and within Syria began to immigrate to the new capital to continue their cause.

ISIL quieted any criticism in Raqqa and nearby cities through fatal force. Vocal opponents of ISIL and anyone believed to be actively transmitting intel about the group were met with executions. It has also been speculated that she was the first citizen female journalist to be executed by the group. A cousin close to the Hassan family stated in an interview that he believes that the reporting on her actions will push others to continue her efforts, despite the threat of punishment from extremists. Another cousin is also quoted in the same article as saying "She became a hero in our village for her courage and being the voice of truth. She was fearless [...] A little Kurdish girl from Kobani faced a brutal militia and exposed them. She will never be forgotten." While Furat al-Wafaa, a former member of the activist group RBSS, spoke to the news company Syria Direct in response to Hassan's arrest and execution. He said of her death and ISIL's suppression of dissenters:"Ruqia continuously challenged IS and often reported on air strikes on Raqqa as they happened [...] IS always wants to keep the sword hovering over the people's necks [...] They want their fighters and supporters to know that the Islamic State is capable of taking revenge against those who speak against them." After the news of Hassan's death became public knowledge in January 2016 the founder of RBSS, Abu Mohammed, confirmed her execution by the extremist group and posted her final status update to his Twitter page.