Syrian Filmmaker Living in Reston Target of Apparent Assassination Attempt in Turkey

Our prayers are with @MuhammadBayazid who is in the hospital in Istanbul after being stabbed in what appears to be an assassination attempt. pic.twitter.com/55nXkX7FHc

— SyrianCulturalHouse (@syriaculture) October 10, 2017

A Syrian opposition filmmaker, who resides in Reston, was apparently the target of an assassination attempt Tuesday in Istanbul.

According to the Middle East Eye, Muhammad Bayazid was stabbed in the chest while meeting potential investors for his new film project, which focuses on Syria’s notorious Tadmor prison. The film tells the story of a Syrian-American man unjustly imprisoned and tortured there.

The prison was destroyed by the Islamic State in 2015.

another attack against Syrian opposition figure in Turkey..
Director Mohammad Bayazid was stabbed hours ago in Istanbul, hope he survives

— diana moukalled (@dianamoukalled) October 11, 2017

Bayazid’s LinkedIn page shows he lives in Reston and is owner of DC-based LightArt Media Productions.

He and his wife, Samah Safi Bayazid, have a short film scheduled to be shown in Reston later this month as part of the Washington West Film Festival. “Fireplace” will be shown Oct. 27 and 28 at Bowtie Cinemas (11940 Market St.). Bayazid and his wife are advertised to be participating in question-and-answer sessions following the screenings.

According to the description of that film:

Inspired by true events. It is Christmas Eve in Syria. A small kid plays hide and seek with his dad, picking the most unexpected place to hide — the fireplace. As a jet fighter bombards the house, the fireplace stands. But now, the child finds himself trapped and alone.

Bayazid is in intensive care following the attack, the BBC reports.