Protesters in Syria held a sit-in demanding justice for four activists who were forcibly disappeared in 2013. Razan Zaitouneh, Wael Hamadeh, Samira Khalil, and Nazem Hammadi were taken from their Violation Documentation Center in Douma, northeast of Damascus.
Zaitouneh was a prominent human rights activist known for her impartial stance on the Syrian conflict. She chanted against President Bashar Assad’s regime but also documented abuses by rebels fighting to oust him. Her disappearance remains one of Syria’s most haunting mysteries.
The new leadership under Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has maintained a neutral stance on accusations against armed groups, but activists are pushing for truth and justice. Yassin Haj Saleh, Khalil’s husband, said the disappearance represents “the deepest wounds” of Syria’s conflict.
Strong clues point to the Army of Islam as the perpetrators, but they have repeatedly denied involvement. The group, made up of religious hard-liners, has aligned with activists in their efforts to uncover the truth and seek justice.
The protesters held banners accusing the Army of Islam and calling for freedom. Wafa Moustafa, whose father was also forcibly disappeared, said “Justice in Syria cannot be limited to those detained by the Assad regime.”
A Syrian delegation arrived in Saudi Arabia on their first official foreign trip, marking a shift towards renewing diplomatic ties with regional leaders.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/syria-disappeared-activists-assad-hts-zaitouneh-douma-e75b4c4967b5d241831f271a19f0696a