Thaer said his southern hometown of Daraa was one of the first to come under siege from Assad’s forces, who would shell civilians and burst into homes to slaughter men and rape women. Without running water, power or access to schools, they escaped into Jordan where they say the UN put them through a 19-month vetting process before they could move to the US in August. Once here, they were amazed to find many of the comforts and customs they enjoyed in the Middle East, from Arabic-speaking neighbors to bustling halal restaurants and shops stocked with Islamic gifts and fashion. ‘Coming to the US was very nerve-racking. I had never heard of Michigan, let alone Hamtramck,’ Thaer told Daily Mail Online, through an interpreter. ‘I had no idea what to expect but once I got here I was surprised at how comfortable it felt. There is a mosque on the corner, most of the people speak our language. This place feels like home.’
