Yusuf has been living in Antioch for the last two years. He is a Syrian from Raqqa. He fled from the civil war and for fear of being conscripted by the army or by any of the Islamist groups that took over the north of his country. He left his family in Raqqa and found a job at an NGO in Antioch.
Yusuf worries about his brothers being easy prey for the Islamic State that has made the city its de facto “capital.” Hunger and unemployment have pushed many to wear the uniforms of jihadist groups, for a salary of a few hundred dollars so their families can survive. So Yusuf does what many Syrian refugees abroad do: He sends money home.
It is difficult for him to go through the traditional channels, either Western Union or the normal banking system. It is impossible to access these services in Raqqa. This is why those who live outside Syria use one of the oldest Islamic money transfer systems: the hawala.
A centuries-old method that resulted from excess riches and frequent trade with Europe and Asia, has found today new life through social networks: The transactions are sent in real time via Skype, Viber or Whatsapp.