Religious Jewish man wears a kippah at the Kotel
Religious Jewish man wears a kippah at the KotelFlash 90

Of the thousands of Syrian immigrants who have found asylum from the civil war currently plaguing Syria, it appears that there is at least one Jewish voice among them.

The Swedish The Local Voices interviewed Alonov, 25, a Jewish Syrian who has sought asylum in Sweden since 2014, about his experience growing up as a Jew in Syria.

Alonov said that, growing up in Syria, he had a nice life: " Most of our neighbors knew that we were Jews, it was quite normal and fine."

However, he qualified that "I never said openly that I was Jewish to those who didn’t know us[...] Schools always taught indiscriminate hatred of all Jews. Whenever I was asked, I would say that I’m Christian.”

Despite being a Jew, Alonov clearly identifies himself with the Syrian destiny, and expresses a desire to return to Syria one day and help rebuild the country:

"[I]t’s hard to feel like you’re losing your homeland. In Sweden I can openly express my beliefs – but still, that doesn’t mean I am free.”
“We need to go back and build our country; we can build the future of our country and no-one else.
“I have lost my dignity, and I have lost my freedom. I am free when I am able to say it openly among my Syrian brothers and sisters: I am a Syrian Jew."