Couple find love, get married in war-torn Kobani, Syria: 'We're not afraid of terrorism and ISIS'
Love and unity will always prevail over war and terror, and this was best exhibited by newly married couple Radwan Bizar and Fian Ayub from Kobani, Syria.
According to NBC News, the two got married on Oct. 23 just one month after they first met and fell in love. The two got acquainted when Bizar, a 30-year-old journalist, came to Syria back in September to do a story about the women's empowerment centre where Ayub worked.
The two immediately hit it off. But their road to marriage encountered one major hurdle when the Islamic State (ISIS) seized control of Kobani and they were forced to wait out the siege in Turkey before returning.
Some family members and friends suggested that they tie the knot in Turkey, but the couple refused, insisting that it must be done in Kobani because it is the city that holds the most significance for them.
"No matter how beautiful the world cities and countries are, for me the country and city I was born and brought up in... is the most beautiful place," Ayub shared. "Despite the devastation, destruction, war and terrorism ... true happiness is only in your homeland."
"We always refused even to think about getting married in Turkey... To get married in your country is a sense of dignity and pride," her husband said.
Bizar hopes that their decision to get married in Kobani despite all of the horrors it endured would show to the world how they took a stand against injustice and terrorism.
"We are the people who love life , who love to live despite all the destruction and devastation," Bizar said. "We're not afraid of terrorism and ISIS. We decided to get married here and we will stay here. We're not leaving."