December 15, 2013
In the Name of God
It’s been six days since our daughter, Razan Zeitouneh, her husband; activist Wael Hamada, activist Samira Khalil and activist Nazim Hamadi were abducted. For six days we have been going through what so many other Syrians have already experienced: the bitterness and agony of uncertainty.
For years, Razan took on the responsibility of relating many of the inhuman conditions connected to abduction. In an article published one week before she was kidnapped, she wrote: “Though much fuss is made about each case of abduction, the abducted are eventually forgotten since there is absolutely noway to help them within the context”.
Through this statement, we, Razan Zeitouneh’s family, pay gratitude to all those who stood by our side during this humanitarian plight as we see this as a grave national case, as much as it is a personal and humanitarian one,especially that abduction has become a phenomenon that shouldn’t be tolerated any longer. Thus, we cannot accept that this incident goes into neglect or oblivion.
During her struggle to defend human rights since 2000, Razan has been nothing but a good daughter of her country Syria; she has always been a sincere Syrian citizen. She was one of the pioneering lawyers unrequitedly volunteering to defend political detainees in Syria. She worked for no agenda other than her own belief in human rights and equality, she has joined no political parties. She sought neither fame nor materialistic gain out of her struggle. On the contrary, she insisted on staying in Syria -despite the great risk to her personal safety- to share with the Syrian people their suffering,and to report their agonies with honesty and credibility. She has, indeed,suffered what they have suffered; the woes of war, fear, the lack of medical services and starvation due to the siege.
Razan Zeitouna is an icon of the Syrian people’s freedom revolution, as she is the Syrian activist woman who fought side by side with her Syrian brothers and sisters in all fields and arenas she believed could benefit her people or lead them to a better future…
Razan’s impartiality and professionalism in covering the human rights violations committed by any Syrian partisan are evidences of her credibility and commitment as a lawyer and a human rights activist, and of her belief in truth- whatever it is- as a right for all Syrians and the reason for which the revolution has broken out.
We relate all these details hoping to deliver a real image not only about Razan as a persistent activist, but also about her as an impartial objective citizen, and we sincerely demand that no one make use of her name, or her abduction, to stir ideological conflicts and differences nor to exchange accusations to any side without proof.
We –Razan’s family- call for everyone to be rational, patient and wise, and to workin coordination with all other parties concerned, in order to end this situation. Also, we cannot but refer to the fact that the Assad regime, its cronies and those who fear the truth and the freedom of expression, are the main beneficiaries of such. We call, at the same time, for the leaders and revolutionary activists in Ghouta, especially those with military power, to assume their human and ethical responsibilities, for this incident took place in areas under their control. We have not and will not accuse anyone- whether an individual or a group- without evidence, and will not be dragged into media altercations for our only concern is the safety of Razan and her companions,and that they come out of their ordeal safe and sound. Thus, here we appeal to all revolutionary forces and activities in Eastern Ghouta to work hand in hand to devise a plan, to form a joint operation desk, dedicated to the necessary end of all abduction of all citizens, and to the case of Razan and her companions in particular.
It is time we all faced the phenomenon of abduction before our country and our revolution lose more of their children.
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This statement was published on the Facebook page of the Violations Documentation Center in Syria (VDC) that was founded by Razan Zeitouneh.
