German book launch and reviews for ‘Al-Faẓia’ الفظیع – The Horror: Surviving Syria’s Prisons’ – May 26, 2026
The book launch for Tobi Dahmen’s graphic novel Al-Faẓia’ الفظیع – the Horror: Surviving Syria’s Prisons, inspired by Akram Al Saud’s experiences in the Syrian prison system, took place on May 26, 2026, at the Carlsen Verlag publishing house in Hamburg, Germany. The event included a reading by Tobi, followed by a moderated discussion with Matthias Wieland, Akram, and Tobi, during which they shared insights into their collaboration and creative process. The trailer of their upcoming documentary film, How to draw darkness? a story from Syria was also screened.
Book launch of Al-Faẓia’ الفظیع – the Horror: Surviving Syria’s Prisons on May 26, 2026, at publishing house of Carlsen Verlag in Hamburg, Germany. Photos Courtesy of Carlsen Veralg.
Akram reflected on their partnership and shared:
With great care, patience, and sensitivity, Tobi transformed years of memory and conversations into a visual narrative.
Al-Faẓia’ is personal, but it is not only personal. It belongs to a much larger Syrian memory: the memory of detainees, survivors, victims, families, and everyone still asking for truth and justice.
The book launch was followed up with presentations and readings at the Wilhelm Liebknecht Central Library on May 27 and at the Luisenbad Library on May 28 in Berlin. In June, Tobi participated in a talk with journalist Christopher Haas at the annual International Comic Salon held in Erlangen. The Comic Salon also featured their work in an exhibition “Defending Democracy” from May 7 to June 9, 2026. He was one of thirty artists chosen to display their political cartoons, comics and drawings. Tobi continues to tour with the graphic novel, and his latest readings and events can be found on his blog: https://www.tobidahmen.de/latest-news
First Reviews of Al-Faẓia’
Since its debut in May, Al-Faẓia’ has received positive and thoughtful reviews from critics and reviewers alike.
Ella Rendtorff from the German daily newspaper taz stated:
By suggesting more than he depicts, he achieves a sensitive visual language for his subject’s traumatic experiences…the graphic novel Al-Faẓia’ الفظیع – the Horror is a powerful testament to courageous resistance.
An article by German culture blog Highlight Zone noted:
More powerfully than a newspaper article or a TV report, this comic, complete with an extensive appendix, conveys the tragic story of a young Syrian man, whose fate is unfortunately far from unique.
Monthly German cultural magazine kulturnews observed that:
The unique collaboration between Tobi Dahmen and Akram Al Saud demonstrates how the unspeakable can find expression in art.
An intellectual history blog, Rotsinn highlighted how:
Dahmen “distances” Al Saud’s narrative so effectively that we, the readers, are not alienated from this story, but rather can begin to grasp, at least in part, what was happening in Syria, what was happening in this specific life of one person.
The graphic novel was also featured in the Dailyklappentext book podcast episode 497.
We are grateful for the first reviews and features on the German release of Al Faẓia’, and look forward to the upcoming English publication by the University of Toronto Press in November 2026.