Like others I am moved by the tragedy of war, the loss of homeland and human suffering in Syria
and also by the needless and wilful destruction of culture and heritage, particularly at Palmyra,
one of the most important sites in Syria.
Destroying a people's historical and cultural sites is an attempt to erase them
from history and memory.
When I read the line in a news article -
'A Syrian fighter stood sobbing loudly in the old ruins'
I wanted to sob too and felt compelled to make this book.
