Syria’s Missing Activists: Calls for Justice Resurface \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Protests erupted in Syria demanding answers about four activists abducted in 2013 during the country’s civil war. Activists Razan Zaitouneh, Wael Hamadeh, Samira Khalil, and Nazem Hammadi were taken from Douma under circumstances pointing to the Army of Islam. With the ouster of President Assad and a new Islamist-led government in place, calls for accountability have gained momentum. Protesters emphasized that justice must extend to all factions responsible for crimes during Syria’s conflict.
Syria’s Missing Activists: Quick Looks
- The Disappearance: Razan Zaitouneh and three colleagues were abducted in Douma in December 2013.
- Protests Reignite: With Assad ousted, Syrians demand accountability for all factions involved in forced disappearances.
- Army of Islam’s Role: Strong evidence implicates the rebel group in the activists’ kidnapping.
- HTS Leadership: Syria’s new rulers maintain neutrality but support activist efforts to seek justice.
- Broader Call for Justice: Protesters demand accountability for all factions, not just the Assad regime.
Deep Look: Syria’s Activists Still Missing, Justice Demanded Amid Political Change
On Wednesday, protests erupted in Douma, northeast of Damascus, as Syrians called for justice for four activists abducted during the height of the country’s brutal civil war. The activists—Razan Zaitouneh, her husband Wael Hamadeh, Samira Khalil, and Nazem Hammadi—were forcibly disappeared on December 9, 2013, when gunmen stormed the offices of the Violation Documentation Center (VDC). Nearly a decade later, their fate remains one of the most haunting mysteries of Syria’s 13-year conflict.
The disappearance of these prominent figures, known for their human rights advocacy and fearless documentation of abuses by all sides, has left a void in Syria’s fight for justice and accountability. With the recent ouster of President Bashar Assad, protests across the country have reignited demands for answers about the missing activists and thousands of others who disappeared during the war.
The Abduction of Syria’s Human Rights Icons
Razan Zaitouneh was among Syria’s most prominent human rights lawyers and activists, known internationally for her unflinching documentation of atrocities committed by the Assad regime and opposition forces. As the founder of the Violation Documentation Center, she chronicled the horrors of Syria’s war, including the torture, detention, and killing of civilians.
On December 9, 2013, Zaitouneh and her colleagues were abducted by gunmen in Douma, then controlled by the Army of Islam, a powerful rebel faction. Zaitouneh’s impartial stance, combined with her push for local governance and resistance to extremist rule, made her a target for both the Assad regime and certain rebel groups.
The gunmen’s identity remains unconfirmed, but many clues point to the Army of Islam. Activists working with Zaitouneh had traced threats against her to the faction, which was accused of resenting her work documenting human rights abuses and her efforts to establish a civilian-led administration in Douma.
Renewed Demands for Justice
The fall of Assad’s government on December 8, 2024, brought a wave of political change to Syria, offering activists an opportunity to demand long-delayed justice. Protesters gathered in Douma for a sit-in near the site of the activists’ abduction, holding banners with messages like “Freedom” and “Traitors who kidnap revolutionaries.”
“This is the first time we can stand in Douma and openly demand the truth,” said Yassin Haj Saleh, a prominent writer and husband of abducted activist Samira Khalil. “The disappearance of activists represents the deepest wounds of Syria’s conflict.”
Saleh recalled years of appealing to various armed groups, including the Army of Islam, for cooperation in finding the activists, only to be met with silence.
“We’re taking advantage of the political change in Syria to remind the world of their case and push for answers,” Saleh said.
The Role of the Army of Islam
At the time of the abduction, the Army of Islam was the dominant rebel group in Douma. Composed of religious hardliners, the faction had imposed strict Sharia law and was accused of suppressing dissent, often targeting activists like Zaitouneh who championed democratic ideals.
While the group has consistently denied involvement in the disappearance, its officials have offered conflicting explanations. In 2018, an Army of Islam spokesperson claimed they had moved Zaitouneh to Douma to protect her from the Assad regime. However, activists and former associates have maintained that the group saw her documentation of abuses as a threat to their authority.
After Assad’s forces retook Douma in 2018, the Army of Islam was forced to relocate to northern Syria, weakening its influence. Hopes that Zaitouneh and her colleagues would be found among prisoners released during the transition were dashed, leaving their fate a painful mystery.
A Broader Call for Justice
Wednesday’s protests in Douma underscored the broader demands for justice in Syria. While much of the international focus has been on atrocities committed by the Assad regime, activists insist accountability must extend to all factions responsible for crimes during the conflict.
Wafa Moustafa, whose father was forcibly disappeared in 2013, attended the protest and spoke about the need for comprehensive justice.
“Justice in Syria cannot be limited to those detained by the Assad regime,” Moustafa said. “For many years, other factions controlled parts of Syria and committed similar crimes of detention, torture, and killing. If justice does not include all victims, it will remain incomplete and threaten Syria’s future.”
The New Political Landscape in Syria
With Assad removed from power, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group, has emerged as the leading force in Syria’s new government. While HTS has remained neutral on accusations against groups like the Army of Islam, it has aligned itself with activist efforts to uncover the truth about the disappeared.
The Army of Islam, now a diminished force backed by Turkey, remains on the sidelines of Syria’s new political structure. The group has sought integration into the HTS-led system but has yet to reach an agreement.
HTS leader Ahmad Sharaa has expressed support for justice initiatives, emphasizing the importance of addressing Syria’s deep-seated grievances. However, activists remain cautious, noting that any genuine reconciliation must involve accountability for all parties, including factions aligned with the current leadership.
The Pain of Forced Disappearance
The plight of the forcibly disappeared represents one of the most agonizing aspects of Syria’s civil war. “Those who die are mourned, but the forcibly disappeared are forbidden from both living and being mourned,” Saleh said.
The uncertainty surrounding their fate leaves families in limbo, unable to grieve or find closure. For Saleh and others, uncovering the truth and holding perpetrators accountable is essential for Syria’s healing.
“For Syria to heal, truth and justice must prevail,” he said.
The Fight for Truth Continues
The disappearance of Razan Zaitouneh and her colleagues remains a symbol of the broader struggle for accountability in Syria. As the country transitions into a new political era, activists and families of the disappeared are determined to keep their cases in the spotlight.
“This isn’t just about the past,” Moustafa said. “It’s about building a future where justice is for everyone, and no one can act with impunity.”
With political change comes an opportunity to confront the darkest chapters of Syria’s history. For those demanding answers, the journey toward truth and justice is far from over.
Syria’s Missing Syria’s Missing
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