Hundreds of Syrians gathered in central Damascus for a funeral procession to honor Mazen al-Hamada, a prominent anti-government activist whose body was discovered following the ouster of President Bashar Assad. The procession, which transformed into a call for justice, saw marchers carrying posters of other missing detainees and demanding that Assad be held accountable.
Al-Hamada, who had been a vocal participant in the anti-government protest movement, was arrested multiple times before leaving Syria for the Netherlands in 2013. Despite becoming a well-known figure in the anti-Assad movement abroad, he returned to Syria in 2020 and mysteriously disappeared. His family tragically found his body in a hospital morgue, indicating that he had been killed within the past week.
The discovery of al-Hamada's body has reignited the search for thousands of missing individuals who disappeared under Assad's regime. Families have been scouring prisons and detention facilities for information, uncovering bodies that show signs of torture and neglect.
During Thursday's procession, mourners carried al-Hamada's body through the streets of Damascus, chanting for justice and accountability. The event drew parallels to the early days of the uprising against Assad over a decade ago, with many participants expressing their determination to seek justice for the victims of the regime's brutality.
As the conflict in Syria continues to unfold, the demand for transparency and accountability remains a central theme in the quest for justice. The memory of Mazen al-Hamada serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle for truth and justice in the face of oppression and violence.
