Bushra* and her family were sleeping when regime forces entered their home in Damascus in the middle of the night. They arrested and took her husband and sons, ages 17 and 19, along with other men and boys from the neighborhood, some as young as 13 years. Bushra said that her husband and sons had not participated in protests or the revolution in Syria.

They were finally released after four months when Bushra paid a bribe for their release. Her husband returned home with his teeth broken and thumbs fractured. Today he suffers from knee problems because he was forced to kneel in a small, crowded room for extended periods of time.

Her husband returned home with his teeth broken and thumbs fractured.”

Bushra and her family have gone through their savings and spend most of their money on rent and basic services, living today as refugees in Jordan. She came to CVT in order to begin rebuilding her life with rehabilitative care. As part of her healing journey, it is important to Bushra to speak out about what was done to her family. She said that regardless of what she’s lost, she just wants to go where her children will be safest.

*Name and some details have been changed for safety and to protect confidentiality.
Photo credit: Dreamstime.

Funding for CVT’s work in Jordan is provided by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration and the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture.