Defiance: A Memoir of Awakening, Rebellion, and Survival in Syria
Author Loubna Mrie discusses her new book in this lunchtime conversation at Columbia Journalism School.
“A heartbreaking account of a young woman’s struggle for freedom against the rampaging forces of fanaticism and tyranny . . . Unforgettable.” —Lawrence Wright, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Looming Tower and The Human Scale
“Defiance takes my breath away. A nail-biting tale of astonishing courage.” —Jeannette Walls #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Glass Castle
Defiance is the unforgettable account of one woman’s fight for freedom—against a father, a dictator, and the weight of inherited belief. From the streets of Aleppo to exile in New York City, it offers an electrifying portrait of moral courage in the face of authoritarianism and violence.
Like any good Alawite girl, every day at school, Loubna Mrie pledged allegiance to Hafez al-Assad. Loubna’s father, a mercurial businessman with close ties to the Assad regime, ruled over his wife and daughters with absolute authority. In their world, loyalty was survival.
But everything changed in 2011, when the pro-democracy uprisings of the Arab Spring reached Syria. Unable to suppress her curiosity, Loubna attended an anti-government protest and subsequently joined the resistance, risking her life by fearlessly proclaiming her Alawite heritage and, later, as a photojournalist documenting the war for Reuters and other outlets. Her defiance would come at a devastating cost: the loss of loved ones, her community, and ultimately her country.
Author Loubna Mrie will be in conversation with Azmat Khan, Director, Simon and June Li Center for Global Journalism. Copies of Defiance will be available for purchase.
Registration required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/defiance-a-memoir-of-awakening-rebellion-and-survival-in-syria-tickets-1987835512529?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true.
This event is sponsored by the Simon and June Li Center for Global Journalism at Columbia University and the Overseas Press Club.
May 12, 2026, 12:15pm - 1:45pm.
Pizza will be served.