Syria contributor: Younes Ahmad and Karen Leigh Karen Leigh is Managing Editor of Syria Deeply. https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/contributor/younes-ahmad-and-karen-leigh/rss en Outrage in Raqqa as ISIS Issues Fatwa to Cut Power During Ramadan ISIS Thu, 03 Jul 2014 00:00:00 +0000 Younes Ahmad and Karen Leigh https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2014/07/03/outrage-in-raqqa-as-isis-issues-fatwa-to-cut-power-during-ramadan https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2014/07/03/outrage-in-raqqa-as-isis-issues-fatwa-to-cut-power-during-ramadan As the holy month commences, the extremist group is clamping down further on its Syrian stronghold. At Polling Stations, Talking to Assad’s Voters Government & Pro-Government Forces Wed, 04 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000 Younes Ahmad and Karen Leigh https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2014/06/04/at-polling-stations-talking-to-assads-voters https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2014/06/04/at-polling-stations-talking-to-assads-voters We ask Syrians across the country for their views on yesterday’s election, the country’s first multi-candidate poll in more than four decades. Voices: Who I’m Voting for Tomorrow Civil Society Mon, 02 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000 Younes Ahmad and Karen Leigh https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2014/06/02/voices-who-im-voting-for-tomorrow https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2014/06/02/voices-who-im-voting-for-tomorrow This week’s presidential elections are the first national vote held in decades. We talk to pro-government and pro-rebel Syrians from across the country, asking who they’re voting for and why. In Deir Ezzor, Sharia Law Interrupts a Woman’s Wedding Opposition Groups & Rebel Forces Fri, 23 May 2014 00:00:00 +0000 Younes Ahmad and Karen Leigh https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2014/05/23/in-deir-ezzor-sharia-law-interrupts-a-womans-wedding https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2014/05/23/in-deir-ezzor-sharia-law-interrupts-a-womans-wedding Local Sharia authorities storm a pre-wedding party, detaining revelers who aren’t wearing Islamic dress. The fallout could be widespread in Syria’s ISIS-dominated east. Weeks of Power Cuts Hit Damascus Suburbs Human Rights Opposition Groups & Rebel Forces Tue, 20 May 2014 00:00:00 +0000 Younes Ahmad and Karen Leigh https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2014/05/20/weeks-of-power-cuts-hit-damascus-suburbs https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2014/05/20/weeks-of-power-cuts-hit-damascus-suburbs On April 25, large swaths of the capital’s outlying areas, along with several southern provinces, descended into darkness. Who’s behind it? Local residents — and the government — blame extremist rebels. Outside Syria’s Bakeries, a Black Market Is on the Rise Opposition Groups & Rebel Forces War Economy Fri, 09 May 2014 00:00:00 +0000 Younes Ahmad and Karen Leigh https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2014/05/09/outside-syrias-bakeries-a-black-market-is-on-the-rise https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2014/05/09/outside-syrias-bakeries-a-black-market-is-on-the-rise With resources dwindling and bakery lines stretching, middlemen have begun buying bread in bulk and hawking it outside many of the country’s remaining bakeries - for double and triple the price. Fighting Decimates Latakia’s Tourism, Shutters its Beach Resorts Civil Society War Economy Fri, 18 Apr 2014 00:00:00 +0000 Younes Ahmad and Karen Leigh https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2014/04/18/fighting-decimates-latakias-tourism-shutters-its-beach-resorts https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria/articles/2014/04/18/fighting-decimates-latakias-tourism-shutters-its-beach-resorts Once a safe haven, the Alawite province’s hotels and restaurants are in the line of fire. Widespread closures are reported, and development has been brought to a standstill.