I grew up in Syria under dictatorship, where one of the first words I learned was “shush.” Silence was essential for survival; even private thoughts could become evidence against you. For someone with many opinions, that silence felt unbearable. Yet I was always drawn to writing. Holding a fine 0.5 pen sparked an irresistible urge to put thoughts into words, despite the risks.
I am now a Scottish-Syrian writer and actor working across literature, film, and performance. In 2022, I received the Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award, during which I developed my manuscript The Boy in the Barrel. I also write the newsletter Out of the Barrel, reflecting on displacement, identity, memory, and survival.
My work has been featured at the Edinburgh International Book Festival and at The University of Edinburgh for Refugee Week 2025.
Alongside writing, I work as an actor in film, television, and theatre, with appearances in The Key, The Buccaneers, Screw, Girl, and Arctic Diva.