Syrian hides his son's library behind a wall for 15 years

A widely shared video captured the moment an elderly Syrian man, known as “Abu Bilal,” demolished a wall he had built approximately 15 years earlier to conceal and protect his son’s library during his years of absence.

According to Syrian and Arab media outlets, the incident took place in the city of Homs, where the man hid the library behind a wall inside the home in October 2011, before removing it on August 24, 2026, revealing the books and belongings that had been preserved throughout those years.

The footage showed hundreds of volumes, including scientific and religious books in good condition, along with certificates in Quranic recitation, diplomas, and personal documents that had been stored behind the wall.

Bilal, the owner of the library, said that his father had taken care to secure and hide the books behind the wall before leaving the house, fearing they might be lost or damaged. He noted that the fate of the library had remained on his mind during his years of absence, until he discovered its contents intact.