In Douma, Syria, demonstrators gathered for a sit-in on Wednesday, calling for justice for four activists who went missing following their abduction in 2013. The unresolved fates of these individuals symbolize the long-standing tragedies associated with Syria’s civil war, which has lasted 13 years.
On December 9, 2013, armed men raided the Violation Documentation Center, located in Douma, northeast of the capital, Damascus. Among those taken were Razan Zaitouneh, her spouse Wael Hamadeh, as well as Samira Khalil and Nazem Hammadi. Zaitouneh was renowned as a human rights advocate and was especially well-known for her secular views. Notably, she documented human rights violations from both the government side and rebel forces opposing President Bashar Assad.
Since their abduction, there has been no information regarding the activists’ status. Following Assad’s ousting on December 8, protests have surged across Syria, demanding clarity on the thousands missing under his regime. Currently, the new governing body, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which played a significant role in the campaign against Assad, has adopted a non-partisan stance on allegations of forced disappearances perpetrated by various factions. Nonetheless, this group has cooperated with activists in efforts to unveil the truth surrounding these disappearances.
“We have convened here today to remind the world of their plight,” stated Yassin Haj Saleh, spouse of Samira Khalil, during the protest. He emphasized that the case of the missing activists remains “the deepest wounds” of Syria’s turmoil. Saleh further remarked that this moment in Douma, sadly, represents a unique opportunity to advocate for their cause, especially now that the political landscape has shifted in the country.
Saleh recounted the numerous attempts made to call upon various armed factions for assistance in locating the four missing individuals prior to Assad’s downfall, but these appeals were met with silence.
Investigators have suggested that responsibility for the abduction likely lies with the Army of Islam, the predominant rebel faction in Douma during that period. This group, comprised of hardline religious fighters, has consistently denied any involvement. In a 2018 statement, Army of Islam official Hamza Bayraqdar claimed that they had sought to safeguard Zaitouneh from Assad’s regime.
Over the years, the Army of Islam has often shifted blame, accusing both the Assad regime and the Nusra Front—a group with affiliations to al-Qaida—of being responsible for her disappearance, according to Saleh. Zaitouneh, who was recognized internationally for her human rights work, also played a key role in establishing the Violation Documentation Center and connected various activist networks during the Syrian uprising. She received accolades for her bravery, including an International Woman of Courage award from Michelle Obama in 2013.
Supporters of Zaitouneh and her colleagues have indicated that the Army of Islam viewed her efforts as a threat to their authority, eventually leading to a series of threats against her. In 2018, after Assad regained control of Douma, the Army of Islam was forced to relocate, a shift that raised hopes of Zaitouneh’s potential release among those held captive. However, those hopes were never realized.
Today, the Army of Islam remains a military entity backed by Turkey but has not aligned with other Islamist groups supporting the regime’s overthrow. Recent meetings between an Army of Islam delegation and leaders from HTS aimed to discuss their potential integration into the new governing framework; however, no conclusive agreements have been reached.
During the protest, participants carried banners directly accusing the Army of Islam, with slogans in both English and Arabic calling for freedom and labeling them as traitors for their actions against revolutionaries. Saleh poignantly expressed that the unique anguish caused by enforced disappearances is profound, stating, “Those who die are mourned, but the forcibly disappeared are deprived of both life and mourning.” He insisted that uncovering the truth and securing justice were essential for Syria’s path toward healing.
Another protester, Wafa Moustafa, whose father also disappeared in 2013, underscored the importance of a broader definition of justice: “The pursuit of justice in Syria cannot be confined to those detained by the Assad regime,” she asserted. “For years, other factions governed areas of Syria, committing similar atrocities. Without inclusive justice, the endeavor will remain flawed and jeopardize the nation’s future.”
In a separate development, a Syrian team composed of foreign and defense ministers alongside the intelligence chief has made its first official foreign diplomatic trip to Saudi Arabia, as reported by state media. Historical relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia have often been fraught, particularly after Syria allied with Iran and Russia to suppress internal uprisings. Yet with Syria’s recent reentry into the Arab League, regional leaders appear increasingly willing to reestablish diplomatic ties.
