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---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Wafa Mustafa with The Syria Campaign <i...@thesyriacampaign.org <mailto:i...@thesyriacampaign.org>> Date: Fri, Jun 5, 2020, 6:21 AM Holding a picture of my dad outside a German courthouse My name is Wafa Mustafa and in July 2013 my father Ali was taken by the Syrian regime for protesting against the injustice and oppression he saw in our country. I haven’t seen or heard from him since. Today is a big day as I am once again outside the courthouse in the German town of Koblenz to witness the world’s first trial of Syrian state torture. Two members of Assad’s regime are on trial for murdering and torturing thousands of detainees and it's the first week that survivors are finally speaking out against their oppressors in court. It’s a crucial first step towards accountability in Syria, that might eventually expose a chain of command that goes all the way up to Assad. But at the same time, people are still suffering in inhumane cells to this day. We must not wait until they are killed by COVID or tortured to death to start seeking justice. I am a member of Families for Freedom, a women-led movement of Syrians like me searching for our family members amongst the 130,000 people who have been detained and tortured by the Syrian regime, ISIS, and other armed groups. Together we are pushing the international community to do more to free all detainees and missing persons and to hold those responsible to account. So many families wanted to be here with me today but couldn’t travel due to coronavirus restrictions. Instead, I’ve come alone with photos of their fathers, sisters, brothers and daughters in the hope that our calls for freedom will be heard. These photos of our loved ones, snatched from us and missing from every birthday meal and family moment, are the closest we can get to representing them here at the trial. My father is a human rights defender and I have learnt from him and I will never stop demanding freedom for those detained. I will continue to campaign until my dad is standing by my side and able to speak up for justice using his own voice. Can you add your strength to our movement by sharing a photo of today's demonstration on your Facebook to spread the word about these important trials? Or if you haven't already, could you sign Families for Freedom's petition demanding the release of Syria's detainees <https://act.thesyriacampaign.org/sign/covid19-protect-syrian-detainees/?t=9&akid=5248%2E277242%2EK3d1kL>? _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
