was released internationally in 2017, premiering and winning an award at that year's Sundance Film Festival. In January 2016, a pseudonymous French author named Sophie Kasiki published a book about her move from Paris to the besieged city in 2015, where she was lured to perform hospital work, and her subsequent escape from ISIL. Transportation Prior to the Syrian Civil War the city was served by Chemins de Fer Syriens. Climate Notable locals Al-Battani, astronomer, astrologer and mathematician (c. 858 – 929) Abdul-Salam Ojeili, novelist and politician (1918–2006) Harun al-Rashid, fifth Abbasid Caliph (786–809) Khalaf Ali Alkhalaf, poet and writer (b. 1969) Yassin al-Haj Saleh, writer and dissident (b. 1961) See also Battle of Callinicum Raqqa offensive (2016) Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently References Further reading Videos External links Current news and events eraqqa Website for news relating to Raqqa Ecclesiastical GCatholic - Latin former titular see GCatholic - Maronite current titular see Historical and archeological Inscription of Raqqa on the World Heritage Tentative List The Citadel of Raqqa – article in German Industrial Landscape Project – Nottingham University al-Raqqa at the Euphrates: Urbanity, Economy and Settlement Pattern in the Middle Abbasid Period – Jena University Cities in Syria Capitals of caliphates Capitals in Asia Populated places in Raqqa District Populated places on the Euphrates River Populated places established in the 3rd century BC 3rd-century BC establishments 240s BC establishments Hellenistic sites in Syria Razed cities Cities founded by Alexander the Great