In an evocative demonstration in Douma, Syria, a group of protesters gathered on Wednesday to demand answers regarding the fate of four well-known activists who have been missing since their abduction in 2013. The protesters are especially concerned for Razan Zaitouneh, her husband Wael Hamadeh, and their colleagues Samira Khalil and Nazem Hammadi, who were taken during a violent raid on the Violations Documentation Center, a hub for monitoring human rights abuses in Syria, highlighting the long-standing struggles for justice in the region.

The abduction occurred during a tumultuous period in the Syrian conflict, and there have been no confirmed sightings nor evidence of the activists' fate since that fateful day. During the protest, which marks the first opportunity for demonstrators to gather at the site of the kidnapping since the recent political shifts in the country, activist Yassin Al-Haj Saleh emphasized, “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,” referring to the wounds embedded in Syrian society.

The new political landscape, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has remained neutral regarding the various armed groups responsible for the enforced disappearances, including accusations pointed at the Army of Islam, the most powerful rebel faction in Douma at that time. Saleh stated at the gathering, “We have enough evidence to incriminate Jaish al-Islam, and we have the names of suspects we would like to see investigated,” seeking accountability within the transitional government.

Zaitouneh was particularly vulnerable due to her outspoken nature, having documented abuses by both the oppressive regime of Bashar al-Assad and various opposing forces, earning an International Woman of Courage Award in 2013 from then-First Lady Michelle Obama for her courageous human rights advocacy. In reflecting on the emotional toll of their plight, Alaa al-Merhi, Khalil's niece, shared, “We are here because we want the truth. The truth about their fate and justice for them, so that we may heal our wounds.”

This public call for justice comes as protests escalate across Syria, driven by a desire for answers regarding the numerous individuals forcibly disappeared during Assad’s regime. Activists believe that without accountability for all perpetrators, including those from rebel factions, true justice in Syria will remain unattainable. Overall, this situation reflects the complex dynamics and persistent human rights challenges that continue to haunt a nation in turmoil.

For further updates, refer to the original report from AP News and VOA News.