An average young man from an average Syrian town, White Helmets co-founder Mahmoud Al-Hattar never expected his path to lead to the stage of the 2018 Academy Awards. But that’s exactly where he was headed when the film, “Last Men in Aleppo”, about a group of volunteers who rescue civilians from the rubble of bombing targets, was nominated for Best Documentary. Unfortunately, the Syrian government (no fan of the White Helmets), stood in the way by denying his visa.
In the movie, Al-Hattar is right-hand man to Khaled Umar Harah, who was killed by government troops months after filming was completed. Today, Al-Hattar lives in Al Atareb outside of Aleppo, while his family is out of harm’s way in Izmir, Turkey.
“I was in an area where there was a conflict between Isis and Assad and allies of the Assad regime and seven of my colleges were killed by Isis,” he tells PR for People. “I witnessed ordinary people, all of them lose a son or family or people they love. And they will never ever give up and let this be an easy way for Russia to control the future in Syria. My people have lost the trust because we have been fed a misrepresentation about peace.”
With Syrian and Russian bombs falling on Ghouta, a death toll over 1,000 amid reports of chlorine gas used on civilians only fuels his skepticism. But Al-Hattar hasn’t given up hope. In fact, the death and destruction he witnesses on a daily basis has given his life purpose. “It fills me with happiness and I feel like what I did was real,” he smiles. “I’m here just to help. I’m not boasting, but it’s something beautiful just for me as a human.”
From Los Angeles
White Helmets
by Jordan Riefe