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Libération, March 11, 2016
To mark the upcoming fifth anniversary of the start of the civil war in Syria, French daily Libérationrenamed itself Friday in Arabic, featuring a striking front-page image of children spinning on swings around a bomb.
Calling itself Tahrir ("Liberation" in Arabic) for the occasion of the March 15th anniversary next Tuesday, the newspaper is devoting its entire issue to the daily lives of Syrians during the ongoing war. This "Libé of Syrians" is entirely composed of pieces by Syrian authors, most of whom have fled to Turkey. Throughout the issue, Syrian journalists, as well as artists, doctors and writers explain how the conflict has changed daily habits, from religious and medical practices, while also influencing art and literature and touching almost every aspect of their lives.
French and Syrian journalists, Libération's editor-in-chief and members of NGO's, such as Reporters Without Borders, brought these stories together in order for the issue "not only to be written by Syrians ... but also dedicated to the entire Syrian community." An estimated 250,000 people have been killed since fighting broke out, and more than half the country's pre-war population of 23 million have been displaced.