{"id":859,"date":"2017-10-24T03:01:02","date_gmt":"2017-10-24T03:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/middleeastandnorthafricablog\/?p=859"},"modified":"2017-10-24T03:01:02","modified_gmt":"2017-10-24T03:01:02","slug":"rebuilding-raqqa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/middleeastandnorthafricablog\/2017\/10\/24\/rebuilding-raqqa\/","title":{"rendered":"Rebuilding Raqqa"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 class=\"pg-headline\">Driving out ISIS is just the start &#8212; rebuilding Raqqa will take years<\/h1>\n<div class=\"metadata \">\n<div class=\"metadata__info js-byline-images\">\n<p class=\"metadata__byline\"><span class=\"metadata__byline__author\">By Haid Haid<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"update-time\">Updated 12:10 PM ET, Wed October 18, 2017<span id=\"js-pagetop_video_source\" class=\"video__source top_source\"><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"m-share m-share__rail-top js-share-rail-top  m-share__floating\">\n<div id=\"gigyaShareBar_3_gig_containerParent\" class=\"js-gigya-sharebar gigya-sharebar\">\n<div class=\"share-bar-email-container gigya-sharebar-element gig-bar-container gig-share-bar-container\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"gigyaShareBar_3\" class=\"gigya-sharebar-element\">\n<div class=\"gig-bar-container gig-share-bar-container\">\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"gigyaShareBar_4\" class=\"gigya-sharebar-element\">\n<div class=\"gig-bar-container gig-share-bar-container\">\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"gigyaShareBar_5\" class=\"gigya-sharebar-element\">\n<div class=\"gig-bar-container gig-share-bar-container\">\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pg-rail-tall__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"pg-side-of-rail pg-rail-tall__side\">\n<div class=\"pg-rail-tall__head js-pg-rail-tall__head\">\n<section id=\"large-media\" class=\"zn zn-large-media zn-body zn--idx-0 zn--ordinary zn-has-one-container\">\n<div class=\"l-container\">\n<div class=\"el__video el__video--fullwidth\">\n<div id=\"media__video_large-media_0--wrapper\" class=\"js-media__video media__video\">\n<div id=\"large-media_0--thumbnail\" class=\"media__video--thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"media__image\" src=\"http:\/\/www.i.cdn.cnn.com\/.a\/2.45.1\/assets\/video_pinned_white_bg.jpg\" alt=\"Raqqa drone video shows ISIS execution square\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"media__video--thumbnail-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"video__end-slate--inactive video__end-slate js-video__end-slate\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"large-media_0\" class=\"media__video--responsive \">\n<div class=\"js-inbetweener-unpinner inbetweener-unpinner\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"js-inbetweener-pinner--type1 inbetweener-pinner--type1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"js-inbetweener-pinner--type2 inbetweener-pinner--type2\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"player-large-media_0\" class=\"theoplayer video-js vjs-default-skin theoplayer-skin vjs-controls-enabled fave-no-mobile theo-style-1 vjs-playing vjs-has-started theoplayer-has-started fave-ad-playing fade-in vjs-user-inactive\">\n<div id=\"jS3KS\" class=\"vjs-tech\"><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"vjs-text-track-display\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"vjs-control-bar\">\n<div class=\"vjs-play-control vjs-control  vjs-playing\" role=\"button\">\n<div class=\"vjs-control-content\"><span class=\"vjs-control-text\">Pause<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vjs-fullscreen-control vjs-control \" role=\"button\">\n<div class=\"vjs-control-content\"><span class=\"vjs-control-text\">Fullscreen<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"theo-watermark\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"media__caption el__storyelement__title fade-in\"><span class=\"pinCurrentPlay\">Now Playing<\/span><span class=\"el__storyelement__header is-truncated\">Raqqa drone video&#8230;<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"large-media_0-metadata\" class=\"metadata\">\n<p class=\"metadata__source\"><span class=\"metadata__source-name\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"media__caption el__storyelement__title\"><span class=\"el__storyelement__header\">Raqqa drone video shows ISIS execution square<\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"el__storyelement__gray\">01:42<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pg-rail-tall__body\">\n<section id=\"body-text\" class=\"zn zn-body-text zn-body zn--idx-0 zn--ordinary zn-has-multiple-containers zn-has-27-containers\">\n<div class=\"l-container\">\n<div class=\"el__leafmedia el__leafmedia--editorial-note\">\n<p class=\"zn-body__paragraph\"><q class=\"el-editorial-note\">Haid Haid is a Syrian research fellow at the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kcl.ac.uk\/study\/postgraduate\/research-groups\/international-centre-for-the-study-of-radicalisation-&amp;-political-violence.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation<\/a>\u00a0at King&#8217;s College London. He is also a consulting research fellow of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.chathamhouse.org\/about\/structure\/mena-programme\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chatham House Middle East and North Africa Programme<\/a>. The opinions in this article belong to the author.<\/q><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"el__leafmedia el__leafmedia--sourced-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"zn-body__paragraph speakable\"><cite class=\"el-editorial-source\">(CNN)<\/cite>As the smoke over Raqqa slowly clears, questions about the governance of the Syrian city and its stability will soon need answering.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph speakable\">The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces &#8212; with support from the US-led coalition &#8212;\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2017\/10\/17\/middleeast\/raqqa-isis-what-comes-next\/index.html\">have recently announced the full capture\u00a0<\/a>of what was until recently the de facto capital of ISIS&#8217; self-declared caliphate.<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph speakable\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sommervilletv\/status\/920387392095256581\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">While some videos<\/a>\u00a0started to circulate showing members of the Syrian Democratic Forces celebrating the symbolic defeat of ISIS, others revealed the enormous level of destruction in the city. The two videos do not contradict one another &#8212; they simply show two sides of the same story.<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\">The first embraces the important figurative value of seizing the base from which ISIS launched so many of its attacks and filmed many of its propaganda videos. The second reveals the scale of the challenge ahead, where too little thought has been given to what lies ahead.<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--epic ad--tablet\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--epic ad--desktop\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"el__embedded el__embedded--standard\">\n<div class=\"el__storyelement--standard el__article--embed\">\n<div class=\"el__article--teaseimage\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2017\/10\/17\/middleeast\/raqqa-isis-what-comes-next\/index.html\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"media__image media__image--responsive\" src=\"http:\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/171017170538-raqqa-sdf-flag-medium-plus-169.jpg\" alt=\"The fall of Raqqa: What comes next for the devastated city -- and for ISIS\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"img__preloader\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"media__caption el__storyelement__title\"><span class=\"el__storyelement__header\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2017\/10\/17\/middleeast\/raqqa-isis-what-comes-next\/index.html\">The fall of Raqqa: What comes next for the devastated city &#8212; and for ISIS<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\">Who will govern and who will rebuild Raqqa? What will happen to the former members of ISIS and its supporters? Will local residents return?<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__read-all\">\n<div id=\"bx-campaign-603800\" class=\"bxc bx-base bx-custom bx-active-step-1    bx-campaign-603800   bx-width-full bx-type-agilityzone  bx-has-close-x-1 bx-has-close-inside bx-fx-fade bx-impress\">\n<div class=\"bx-slab\">\n<div class=\"bx-align\">\n<div id=\"bx-creative-603800\" class=\"bx-creative bx-creative-603800\">\n<div class=\"bx-wrap\">\n<div class=\"bx-ally-label\">close dialog<\/div>\n<div id=\"bx-step-603800-1\" class=\"bx-step bx-step-1 bx-active-step bx-step-y5WqKV3 bx-step-603800-1 bx-tail-placement-hidden\">\n<form id=\"bx-form-603800-step-1\" action=\"https:\/\/api.bounceexchange.com\/capture\/submit\" method=\"post\">\n<div id=\"bx-group-603800-WRqyYJF\" class=\"bx-group bx-group-default bx-group-603800-WRqyYJF bx-group-WRqyYJF\">\n<div id=\"bx-element-603800-UC84ER9\" class=\"bx-row bx-row-image bx-row-image-default  bx-row-UC84ER9 bx-element-603800-UC84ER9\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/assets.bounceexchange.com\/assets\/uploads\/clients\/340\/creatives\/12594e976d3d59c7b5666a5dd1d50ec7.png\" \/><\/div>\n<div id=\"bx-element-603800-Oo3RSns\" class=\"bx-row bx-row-text bx-row-text-headline  bx-row-Oo3RSns bx-element-603800-Oo3RSns\">\n<div>Tell us where to send you\u00a0COVER\/LINE<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"bx-element-603800-c4p3nuh\" class=\"bx-row bx-row-text bx-row-text-subheadline  bx-row-c4p3nuh bx-element-603800-c4p3nuh\">\n<div>Get your daily dose of political pop culture<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"bx-group-603800-q9bLmdQ\" class=\"bx-group bx-group-default bx-group-603800-q9bLmdQ bx-group-q9bLmdQ\">\n<div id=\"bx-element-603800-sqLogHZ\" class=\"bx-row bx-row-input bx-row-input-default  bx-row-sqLogHZ bx-element-603800-sqLogHZ\">\n<div class=\"bx-inputwrap\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"bx-element-603800-WyGkyzr\" class=\"bx-row bx-row-submit bx-row-submit-default  bx-row-WyGkyzr bx-element-603800-WyGkyzr\"><button class=\"bx-button\" type=\"submit\">Activate COVER\/LINE<\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"bx-group-603800-YABdd0k\" class=\"bx-group bx-group-default bx-group-603800-YABdd0k bx-group-YABdd0k\">\n<div id=\"bx-element-603800-NFMXMIR\" class=\"bx-row bx-row-text bx-row-text-default  bx-row-NFMXMIR bx-element-603800-NFMXMIR\">\n<div>By subscribing you agree to our<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"bx-element-603800-hHC74e5\" class=\"bx-row bx-row-text bx-row-text-default  bx-row-hHC74e5 bx-element-603800-hHC74e5\">\n<div>privacy policy.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\">The answers to these questions are not only central to stabilizing the city but also to preventing ISIS from re-emerging in a new form.<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\">The Syrian Democratic Council, the political representative of the Syrian Democratic Forces, has been preparing for the capture of Raqqa since April. But its plans for the city still remain largely vague.<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.atlanticcouncil.org\/blogs\/syriasource\/the-ramifications-of-the-sdf-governance-plan-for-raqqa-post-isis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">These include<\/a>\u00a0the formation of a civilian council to administer the province once ISIS is pushed out. The majority of the council\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/aranews.net\/2017\/04\/kurdish-feminist-appointed-co-head-raqqa-civilian-council\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">consists of Arabs<\/a>\u00a0&#8212; in line with Raqqa&#8217;s demography &#8212; but it also includes Kurds and other ethnic groups.<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\">Despite promises to expand the council, once the city is completely captured, not all locals accept the council.<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\">&#8220;Raqqa is an Arab-majority province. Nonetheless, the Kurdish forces want to govern Raqqa through the council they created. They want to integrate Raqqa in their self-administration project. Expanding the council will not solve this problem, as they will remain the ones running the show,&#8221; said Ahmed Hassan, a media activist from Raqqa based in Turkey.<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\">This view is supported\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.crisisgroup.org\/middle-east-north-africa\/eastern-mediterranean\/syria\/b053-fighting-isis-road-and-beyond-raqqa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">by a report published by the International Crisis Group<\/a>, which states that Syrian Democratic Forces efforts to include Arabs in the Kurdish-led &#8220;Democratic Self-Administration&#8221; model have been superficial and do not amount to a meaningful share in governance.<\/div>\n<div class=\"el__embedded el__embedded--fullwidth\">\n<div class=\"el__video--fullwidth js__video--fullwidth\">\n<div id=\"media__video_body-text_15--wrapper\" class=\"js-media__video media__video\">\n<div class=\"media__video--thumbnail-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"video__end-slate--inactive video__end-slate js-video__end-slate\">\n<div class=\"l-container\">\n<div class=\"video__end-slate__top-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"js-el__video__replayer-wrapper el__video__replayer-wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"media__image\" src=\"http:\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/171017141912-raqqa-gabriel-chaim-1-large-169.jpg\" alt=\"Raqqa liberated from ISIS control\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"js-el__video__replay-button el__video__replay-button\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"video__end-slate__secondary\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h4 class=\"video__end-slate__tertiary-title\"><\/h4>\n<div class=\"js-video__end-slate__tertiary video__end-slate__tertiary\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"body-text_15\" class=\"media__video--responsive \"><\/div>\n<div id=\"body-text_15-metadata\" class=\"metadata\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"media__caption el__storyelement__title\"><span class=\"el__storyelement__header\">Raqqa liberated from ISIS control<\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"el__storyelement__gray\">02:00<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\">Moreover, the civilian council in Raqqa still does not have the resources needed to rebuild the city. &#8220;We have not received any external funds in order to be able to provide the basic needs in the areas that have been captured from ISIS. Such needs will only increase after the capture of Raqqa city. Nonetheless, there are no strong indications that the international community will do much to help,&#8221; said Ibrahim al-Mousa, a member of the council.<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\">The town of Kobani, which was liberated from ISIS almost three years ago, is still\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-mideast-crisis-syria-kurds\/syrian-town-struggles-to-cope-alone-after-key-victory-over-islamic-state-idUSKBN1CK0AQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">struggling to recover<\/a>\u00a0due to lack of support from Western allies. In Raqqa, which is bigger and more problematic, the situation will likely be worse.<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-mideast-crisis-syria-raqqa-amnesty\/amnesty-for-militants-in-syrias-raqqa-aims-to-promote-stability-idUSKBN19F0FT\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Other than a handful of ad hoc deals with ISIS fighters<\/a>, the council does not have a clear strategy for dealing with the group&#8217;s supporters and ex-fighters. In July, the council released former ISIS members whom local officials described as low-ranking militants with &#8220;no blood on their hands.&#8221;<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\">This action was presented as a goodwill gesture to promote stability and ease tension among locals. But achieving stability requires comprehensive strategies aimed at reintegrating former ISIS fighters and supporters.<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\">Thousands of people are family members of former &#8212; or even current &#8212; ISIS affiliates who might be discriminated against because of the choices made by their relatives. There will also be hundreds of former ISIS members who need be rehabilitated to rejoin their communities.<\/div>\n<div class=\"el__embedded el__embedded--standard\">\n<div class=\"el__storyelement--standard el__article--embed\">\n<div class=\"el__article--teaseimage\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2017\/10\/18\/middleeast\/isis-yazidi-slavery-child-slaves\/index.html\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"media__image media__image--responsive\" src=\"http:\/\/cdn.cnn.com\/cnnnext\/dam\/assets\/171016095109-03-cnn-isis-yazidi-captives-medium-plus-169.jpg\" alt=\"ISIS&#039; power is waning, but its child slave trade is still booming\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"img__preloader\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"media__caption el__storyelement__title\"><span class=\"el__storyelement__header\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2017\/10\/18\/middleeast\/isis-yazidi-slavery-child-slaves\/index.html\">ISIS&#8217; power is waning, but its child slave trade is still booming<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\">The absence of clear mechanisms to reintegrate former members and supporters will hinder the chances of preventing them from rejoining ISIS elsewhere or migrating to like-minded groups. Such efforts should not, however, preclude the criminal prosecution of former ISIS fighters via local courts where there is sufficient evidence to do so.<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\">The US-led, anti-ISIS led forces &#8212; both local and international &#8212; drove local communities out of conflict areas, in Raqqa and elsewhere due to the enormous level of violence and destruction. Nonetheless, only a small number of those displaced have returned after fighting has ended.<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\">Many will be unable to return because of security measures or will be otherwise prevented due to perceived sympathies with or ties to members of ISIS. Local communities alone cannot handle the scale of the internal displacement crisis in Raqqa. Nonetheless, the ability of the Raqqa civilian council to assure the safety of returnees and provide them with the basic services will be central to the decision of many displaced locals as to whether they go home.<\/div>\n<div class=\"zn-body__paragraph\">The forces that drove ISIS from Raqqa can only sustain its military achievements by setting out post-ISIS mechanisms that allow locals to develop and run their city meaningfully in an inclusive manner that ensures good governance and reliable public services.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Driving out ISIS is just the start &#8212; rebuilding Raqqa will take years By Haid Haid Updated 12:10 PM ET, Wed October 18, 2017 Pause Fullscreen Now PlayingRaqqa drone video&#8230; \u00a0 Raqqa drone video shows ISIS execution square\u00a001:42 Haid Haid is a Syrian research fellow at the\u00a0International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation\u00a0at King&#8217;s College London. He is also a&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/middleeastandnorthafricablog\/2017\/10\/24\/rebuilding-raqqa\/\">Read more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-859","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/middleeastandnorthafricablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/859","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/middleeastandnorthafricablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/middleeastandnorthafricablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/middleeastandnorthafricablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/36"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/middleeastandnorthafricablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=859"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/middleeastandnorthafricablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/859\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":860,"href":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/middleeastandnorthafricablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/859\/revisions\/860"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/middleeastandnorthafricablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=859"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/middleeastandnorthafricablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=859"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/baileyonlineclassroom.com\/middleeastandnorthafricablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=859"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}