ROCHELLE JUNIOR

Sweida- The peaceful protests erupted in the Druze majority city of Sweida over the high inflation rate and deteriorating economic situation in Syria on August 17, 2023 continue on their second months.

On the first death anniversary of journalist Muntaha al-Atrash, the people of Sweida went to the town of al-Qurayya, hometown of Muntaha al-Atrash, and gathered in front of the memorial monument of Sultan Pasha al-Atrash.

Maysoon Abu Saab, one of the people gathering in front of the monument, said, “My son Ihab Abu Saab was held in prison for five years although there was no reason for his arrest. Then, he was executed.” After the execution of her son, Maysoon Abu Saab’s health condition deteriorated and she had a heart attack and suffered a stroke in her hand. She demands the Syrian government be held accountable for its crimes against the people and the release of all political prisoners.

Calling on all women in Syria, she said, “We must rise up against the regime that deprives us of all our rights and kills our children.”

Her brother was sentenced to death.

Salha Abu Saab has been participating in the protests since August 17 to demand justice for her brother, who was executed by the Syrian regime. “My brother was held in Tadmor prison for 10 years. Then, he was sentenced to death. We are not allowed to visit him. Recently, one of his friends was released from prison and I learned how my brother is from him. All prisoners must be immediately released,” she told NuJINHA.

‘I encourage women to demand their rights’

Najah Hudayfa’s son was killed in Jisr al-Shughur, a city in northwestern Syria. “I came here to commemorate Muntaha al-Atrash and protest the deteriorating economic situation in Syria. I encourage women to take to the streets and demand their rights. As Syrian people, we join hands and demand justice, equality, the change of the regime, freedom and better living conditions. We want to have a safe life with dignity,” she said.

Journalist and human right activist Muntaha al-Atrash, the daughter of Syrian revolution leader Sultan Pasha al-Atrash, died on October 12, 2022, at the age of 84. She was buried in the town of al-Qurayya, her hometown.