About the Speaker
Abdalaziz
Alhamza
Syrian citizen journalist and co-founder of Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS)
Abdalaziz Alhamza is the co-founder and spokesperson for Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS), a group of activists who use citizen journalism to expose the terror tactics of ISIS in Syria. While a biology student at Raqqa University, Alhamza organized nonviolent protests and demonstrations against the Syrian regime. Once ISIS took over Raqqa in 2014, Alhamza fled Syria and helped found RBSS from abroad. The group uses social media and smuggled photos and videos to show life under ISIS and has served as a major source for news organizations around the world. RBSS was awarded the 2015 International Press Freedom Award from the Committee to Protect Journalists.