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'The camera was my shield' - a refugee films his journey
Hassan Akkad was an amateur filmmaker forced to flee Syria, having been detained twice by regime forces. His destination was the UK, and on the way he used his camera to document the toughest chapters. In the Calais migrant camp, he met two documentary-makers who would use his footage in a high-profile film, kick-starting Hassan's career in documentary film-making. Hassan spoke to Sahar Zand.
Protests, prison and the day I met Assad
When anti-government protests started in Syria in 2011, amateur filmmaker Hassan Akkad decided to document the violence. It was dangerous work, and the regime was violently clamping down on the uprising. After 6 months of protesting, Hassan's luck ran out, and he was arrested and detained. He claims he was tortured in prison. Then, after his release, he received an extraordinary offer. Hassan was invited to meet Syria's autocratic President Bashar al Assad. Hassan spoke to Outlook's Sahar Zand.