The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Prominent Syrian activist killed in rebel-held province

Masked gunmen in ’s rebel-held northwestern province shot and killed on Friday a prominent anti-government journalist who was also a sharp critic of Islamist militants.

‘ U.S.-funded Radio Fresh station provided news of the conflict to ’s northern provinces and was a source for international news outlets which have largely stayed away from the opposition-held areas amid rising lawlessness.

’s killing was a blow to the few independent voices that have continued to promote nonviolence and democratic change in the war-torn country.

In a June op-ed in The Washington Post, lamented that the U.S. had cut funds to ’s opposition areas, including the radio station he founded in 2013 in his hometown of Kafranbel in rebel-held Idlib province. He said such a move would only feed extremism.

“As a journalist and activist, I felt I had a duty to counter the fundamentalist narratives that are spreading among people who have no other source for hope in our war-torn homeland,” wrote in the Post on June 28. His station provided training and jobs for hundreds of young activists and citizen journalists.

“If it weren’t for us and other independent voices, terrorists would be the only source of information about locally and internationally. For that reason, the terrorist groups (and the regime) see us as a direct threat.”

survived an earlier assassination attempt in 2014 when he was shot in the chest by armed men. He was abducted by militants affiliated with an al-Qaida group and tortured. He criticized the militants’ harassment of its critics. His radio station was raided by militants and bombed by government warplanes.

But on Friday, was fatally shot. His attackers drove up in a van and fired at him and his colleague Hammoud al-Juneid in Kafranbel while they were in their vehicle, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. They both died shortly of their wounds.

Social media sites were rife with the news of ‘ killing. “My last friend & hope 4 a better has been killed (today) after being let down by” everyone, Zaina Erhaim, a U.K.-based Syrian journalist who left the country in 2016, wrote on Twitter.

gained fame during the Syrian uprising because of continued support for opposition protests even when the conflict took a violent turn.

His town gained attention during weekly anti-government protests because of the humorous English-language banners he created for each rally. “Do not send money. Gold is not edible,” one banner read, urging the world to free a besieged area instead of sending assistance.

He organized protests to express support for the victims of the 2013 Boston bombings, which he called “a sorrowful scene of what happens in every day. Do accept our condolences.”

was also a vocal critic of Islamic militants, supporting rallies against them, and accusing them of silencing dissent. The Observatory reported that more than 390 people have been shot and killed since April in the rebel-held north amid a wave of assassination and lawlessness.

In his op-ed in the Post, said he had seen militants regrouping in the absence of support for the less radical opposition.

“’s democratic future relies on our success,” he wrote.

Mohammed Katoub, a doctor who supports health facilities in rebel-held areas, said public figures and civil society activists are increasingly under threat in northwestern by militant groups. He said at least 13 doctors have disappeared since 2018.

“I think the targeted people are all public figures and community leaders who believe in the same values of humanity, dignity, justice and liberty,” Katoub said. “You can’t know () without loving him, his smile, his optimism, his hopes for , (his) way of thinking and creativity.”

Source: Prominent Syrian activist killed in rebel-held province | Parker City News