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Protesters in Syria call for justice for disappeared activists
January 1, 2025
Article Body Text<p>A few dozen protesters gathered in the Syrian city of Douma on Wednesday to demand answers in the disappearance of four prominent activists who were abducted more than a decade ago.</p> <p>The demonstrators called on Syria’s new rulers — the Islamist-led rebels who seized power last month — to investigate what happened to them.</p> <p>The disappeared activists in question are Razan Zaitouneh, her husband, Wael Hamadeh, Samira Khalil and Nazem Hammadi.</p> <p>On Dec. 9, 2013, unidentified gunmen stormed the Violations Documentation Center in Douma, northeast of Damascus, and abducted the four activists. At the time, Douma was held by rebels. </p> <p>There has been no sign of life nor proof of death since they were abducted.</p> <p><a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/as-syria-s-prison-doors-open-tens-of-thousands-remain-missing-/7899828.html"><figure><img src="https://gdb.voanews.com/e9fbabb4-ed31-4920-8c1d-2c2312234fb3_w1600_r0_n_s.jpg" /></figure></a><a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/as-syria-s-prison-doors-open-tens-of-thousands-remain-missing-/7899828.html">As Syria’s prison doors open, tens of thousands remain missing </a></p> <p>Zaitouneh was one of Syria’s most prominent human rights activists, in part because she documented abuses by then-President Bashar al-Assad’s government and rebel groups in equal measure.</p> <p>Her work earned her international recognition, including an International Woman of Courage Award presented by U.S. first lady Michelle Obama in 2013.</p> <p>At the Wednesday protest, demonstrators held up photos of the missing activists.</p> <p>“We are here because we want to know the whole truth about two women and two men who were disappeared from this place 11 years and 22 days ago,” said activist Yassin Al-Haj Saleh, whose wife, Khalil, was among those abducted.</p> <p>“We are gathering here to remind the world of their case,” he added. “This is the first opportunity that allows us to be in Douma and in front of the place that they were kidnapped from, to speak up about the case, taking advantage of the political change that took place in the country.”</p> <p>Since the Assad government was ousted last month, protests have occurred across the Middle Eastern country calling for information about the thousands of people who were forcibly disappeared under Assad’s rule. </p> <p><a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/calls-rise-for-accountability-in-assad-s-crimes-against-journalists-in-syria/7899393.html"><figure><img src="https://gdb.voanews.com/5F6112A7-0EE1-4628-9391-B72980529A21_cx0_cy3_cw0_w1600_r0_n_s.jpg" /></figure></a><a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/calls-rise-for-accountability-in-assad-s-crimes-against-journalists-in-syria/7899393.html">Calls rise for accountability in Assad's crimes against journalists in Syria</a></p> <p>Syria’s transitional government — led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, which led the ouster of Assad — has been neutral regarding accusations against various armed groups of forcibly disappearing activists. HTS has also aligned with activists in their efforts to seek truth and justice.</p> <p>“We are here because we want the truth. The truth about their fate and justice for them, so that we may heal our wounds,” said Alaa al-Merhi, Khalil’s niece.</p> <p>No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, but signs point to the Army of Islam, the most powerful rebel faction in Douma at the time. The group has long denied involvement.</p> <p>Zaitouneh had received threats from both the government and rebels before she went missing. Friends and activists have said some of the threats can be traced to the Army of Islam.</p> <p>Protesters on Wednesday held banners accusing the Army of Islam of the abduction.</p> <p>“We have enough evidence to incriminate Jaish al-Islam, and we have the names of suspects we would like to see investigated,” Haj Saleh said.</p> <p>He said he wanted “the perpetrators to be tried by the Syrian courts.”</p> <p>The Army of Islam remains an armed faction backed by Turkey. It is excluded from the HTS-led Syrian leadership.</p> <p><em>Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. </em></p>
Content TypeText
LanguageEnglish
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJanuary 1, 2025 16:36 EST
BylineVOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
