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Serialised book readings, featuring works from various genres

Serialised book readings, featuring works of non-fiction, biography, autobiography, travel, diaries, essays, humour and history

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Book of the Week: The Pianist of Yarmouk: Episode 5

The Pianist of Yarmouk

Episode 5

BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week, The Pianist of Yarmouk, Episode 5

Aeham Ahmad’s dramatic story of how he defied the war in Syria with his music.

After failing to escape with his family, Aeham has to make the agonising choice between staying in Syria and being killed or leaving them behind and fleeing to Europe alone.

Ammar Haj Ahmad reads Aeham Ahmad’s dramatic account of how he risked his life playing music under siege in Damascus.

After being caught by President Assad’s forces trying to flee Syria with his wife and two small children, Aeham and his family have miraculously been freed from prison. But then he has to make an agonising choice:

"It was heartbreaking, but my decision was made: I had to leave Syria, I was too well known to the authorities to survive if I stayed. But I couldn’t take my wife and kids on such a hellish journey. If I made it to Europe in one piece, I’d do everything in my power to have them join me. But if something happened to me – well, at least my family would live."

In his desperation, Aeham employs a people smuggler to get him out of Syria and across the border into Turkey. 

"Suddenly, we see a group of maybe 20 people dashing out of the woods and breaking into a sprint. Four men are carrying an old woman on a stretcher. The soldiers notice them and start yelling at them to stop. They get stuck in the ditch. It’s impossible to keep going, not with the old lady. The soldiers open fire. Two men are shot in the leg. We start running as well. And in all the turmoil, we manage to get across the border."

But that’s not the most dangerous part of his journey – he still has to face the crossing from Izmir to Lesbos in a flimsy, overcrowded dinghy. 

The Pianist of Yarmouk is read by Ammar Haj Ahmad, who trained as an actor before fleeing the conflict in Syria. He recently starred in the critically acclaimed play The Jungle, set in the notorious Calais refugee camp, in London and New York. 

Written by Aeham Ahmad
Read by Ammar Haj Ahmad
Abridged and produced by Jane Greenwood
A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4

Book of the Week: The Pianist of Yarmouk

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Aeham Ahmad's dramatic story of how he defied the war in Syria with his music.

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