This is a panel debate to discuss the symbolism and media representation of the Syrian city of Raqqa, in various news and media outlets, films, books and series. Raqqa city features in many different shapes and forms, for example in books such as the Road from Raqqa and here in Sweden a TV-series called "Kalifat" is partly situated in Raqqa city as the backdrop hotbed of jihadism and ISIS. Viewers do not actually get to know the city. In other words, everybody knows Raqqa nowadays but nobody actually knows the city and its people.

The aim of this panel to give a more in-depth and nuanced insight into this Syrian city that has become well-known globally. The roundtable is conducted by a panel of Syrian writers and journalists from Raqqa as well as scholarly media experts from Sweden.

Panel members:

• Yassin al-Haj Saleh, Dissident Syrian-Arab Writer from Raqqa, also called "the conscience of the Syrian Revolution", author of 8 books on Syria

• Mazen Hassoun, Syrian Journalist from Raqqa, founder of "Al-Raqqa post"

• Hussam Eesa, Journalist from Raqqa, founding-member of “Raqqa is being slaughtered

silently”.

• Josepha Wessels, author of "Documenting Syria: Film-making, Video Activism and

Revolution" K3, Malmö University, Sweden (moderator)