Syria’s first deaf basketball team dreams of international competition
Syria’s first basketball team for deaf and hard-of-hearing players is training in Sweida with hopes of competing internationally and joining clubs abroad.
The team brings together young men and women who train on the court while communicating through sign language. Coach Motaz al-Abbas said building the team had presented unique communication challenges, but he has continued developing the players’ skills with support from local church organisations. Loris Hadi Mawal, team member, spoke of her passion for basketball and their determination to reach international clubs.
The team has emerged as Sweida continues to recover from deadly violence in July 2025 involving Druze and Bedouin armed groups, as well as Syrian government forces. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 1,895 people were killed during the wider escalation. Despite the difficult circumstances, the players and their coach are looking beyond local competition, hoping to represent Syria on the international stage.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
