January 26, 2021

“I live in an old house on the shore of Chagh Chagh in Qamishli, I have been making pottery for about 70 years. My family have been doing the same work for 450 years. My ancestors had done this in their time, and there isn’t anyone who does this anymore. We can’t just use any type of mud we want, there is a certain type that needs to be used to make pottery. In 1996, when Syria and Egypt united, we had a dry season for three years, and I used to go to Basra town on the shore of Euphrates to exchange pottery for wheat. I have met Hafez Assad (the former Syrian president), and due to my knowledge in analyzing the types of mud, he pardoned me from joining the military. The Syrian government sent me to 12 countries to research about mud and its different types. I have also taught my kids, and they are very knowledgeable now, my only wish is that this work continues”.