Teaching resources for Al-Faẓia’ available in German and English

SCVN’s third graphic novel, Al-Faẓia’ الفظیع – The Horror: Surviving Syria’s Prisons, was published in German by Carlsen Verlag on May 26, 2026. Created through a collaboration between artist Tobi Dahmen and survivor Akram Al Saud, the book draws on extensive interviews and personal encounters to share Akram’s story. Arrested at the age nineteen while studying architecture at the University of Aleppo, and Akram endured the first of four detentions in Syrian prisons before eventually fleeing to Europe in 2016.

To support classroom engagement with this powerful work, SCVN is pleased to announce teaching resources for the German edition, developed by Dr Tatia Grünbaum, whose research focuses on using visual literature to advance Global Citizenship Education in schools.

The resources, titled ‘Life in Moments’, were developed for upper-secondary school students and designed to support teachers seeking materials to challenge their classes to think critically about violent authoritarian rule, survival, and resistance through the lens of Akram Al Saud’s experiences in Syria. The materials include four lessons with key terms and a reference list, and provide visual literacy and cross-curricular teaching suggestions.

Visit our Educational Resources page to download a free PDF copy of each, or click the German and English book covers below to view the online flipbooks: