Syrian exile tells of heartbreaking search for wife who vanished a decade ago


Sunniva Rose
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  • Arabic

When Bashar Al Assad fled last year, former political prisoner Yassin Al-Haj Saleh, 64, was a man who had lost everything to the twists of Syrian politics.

Year after year in the 1980s, he refused to compromise with the regime, and spent 16 years as a prisoner of conscience as a result. In 2013, two years after the uprising against Mr Al Assad's regime, his wife and three colleagues went missing.

After decades of resistance and loss, he feels a measure of vindication, but only in part. Following 11 years in exile, he was able to return to Syria in January to lodge a complaint over his wife's disappearance and take part in public debates that would have been impossible weeks earlier.

It's still possible that I don't exist in this new Syria, like I did not exist in the old Syria
Yassin Al-Haj Saleh

What happens to his legal petition and those of many others is a test the new regime in Damascus has not yet fully addressed. Like millions of Syrians, Mr Al-Haj Saleh has lived for years without knowing what happened to relatives who disappeared at the hands of the former Syrian regime or paramilitary groups. Will he finally get answers? "It's unpredictable," he told The National, speaking from Beirut. "Things are moving fast in Syria."

That is far from an understatement. Interim President Ahmad Al Shara stunned the world on Wednesday when, at a meeting in Riyadh, US President Donald Trump announced the lifting of American sanctions on Syria, just six months after the US lifted a bounty of $10 million on the Syrian leader's head.

On Saturday, Syria announced the formation of a national commission for missing people and another commission for transitional justice for victims of atrocities committed under Mr Al Assad.

Samira Khalil, the wife of Yassin Al-Haj Saleh, who went missing in Douma in Syria in 2013. Photo: Samira Al Khalil Association
Samira Khalil, the wife of Yassin Al-Haj Saleh, who went missing in Douma in Syria in 2013. Photo: Samira Al Khalil Association

Both bodies will have "financial and administrative independence" and act over all of Syrian territory, according to the presidency.

Mr Al-Haj Saleh is hoping for a glimpse of the truth in Paris, at the first European trial of an alleged Syrian war criminal since the fall of the Assad regime.

The trial of Syrian Majdi Nema, former spokesman of the rebel group Jaish Al Islam, opened on April 29. In France, this is the second trial concerning war crimes committed in Syria.

Mr Nema, 36, was initially arrested in 2020 in France over the 2013 disappearance of Mr Al-Haj Saleh's wife Samira Khalil and three colleagues – Razan Zaitouneh, Wael Hammadeh and Nazem Hammadi. Together, they are known as the "Douma Four" because they were kidnapped in the city of Douma, near Damascus. They had fled there because it was an area outside of the Assad regime's control.

In the Syrian capital, they had lived in hiding due to their support of anti-government protesters after a 2011 uprising that later became civil war. Their fate has been the subject of investigative articles, books and films.

Charges linking Mr Nema to the Douma Four were dropped in 2023, largely for procedural reasons. He was not in Douma when they were kidnapped. He had moved to Turkey, where he was based from then on. Yet evidence points at Jaish Al Islam orchestrating their disappearance.

The group has always denied this accusation. When questioned by journalists, during his time as a spokesman, Mr Nema echoed this claim. Today, he could be jailed for 20 years. He is accused of complicity in war crimes committed by Jaish Al Islam, including enrolling teenagers to fight for the group.

So far, his trial has shed light on the uphill battle faced by Syrian authorities should a similar exercise ever take place in Syria. One witness, who was scheduled to testify in a closed hearing, pulled out at the last minute on Wednesday for fear of their safety because Mr Nema and his counsel would have been able to see their face, according to the judge. More witnesses are expected to speak in the coming weeks.

Prosecutors have claimed recent political events in the country have heavily influenced the course of the trial. Half the witnesses pulled out, citing fears of reprisal against their families in Syria at the hands of the new authorities or their supporters. The lawyers said the root of the development lay with Nema's past links to Jaish Al Islam, which is part of the Al Shara-led administration.

The Sunni community has developed a powerful victimhood narrative. Its instinct is to keep power.
Yassin Al-Haj Saleh

Prosecutors and the defence have argued heatedly over whether the trial should take place in France, a former colonial power, or Syria, finally free of 54 years of Assad rule yet rocked with sectarian killings and struggling to rebuild.

Western expectations are high and in some cases unrealistic. Mr Trump said he wants Syria to normalise relations with Israel despite territorial incursions and unprovoked air strikes that have angered public opinion. French President Emmanuel Macron, who recently received Mr Al Shara in Paris, told him he wants an independent Syrian judiciary that would pursue killers whatever their political loyalty. That includes Islamist groups – with links to the new government – that recently perpetrated massacres against the Alawite minority.

It will be hard, warned Mr Al-Haj Saleh. "It would be good for [Al Shara] and for the whole country if he can weaken extremists," he said. "I am not sure he can do it. It's a fine equilibrium. If he weakens them too much, he'll lose some of his tools. If he doesn't, he loses credibility."

Mr Al-Haj Saleh's insights on justice in Syria are unique due to his courage and historic refusal to compromise with either Assad father or son or with Islamists during the civil war. He is one of the last representatives of the older generation of secular anti-regime activists, after the death of Riad Al Turk, 93, last year.

Truth quest

The trial may yet be an opportunity for truth, Mr Al-Haj Saleh hopes, both for Syrian victims, who can tell their stories, and for Mr Nema to say what he knows about the disappeared. He risks little if he speaks since charges were dropped. "It is useful," Mr Al-Haj Saleh said, "to enable some Syrians to tell their stories, to give their testimonies."

Writing in the New York Review of Books after his trip to Syria in January, Mr Al-Haj Saleh described his feelings over the enduring absence of the disappeared that loomed over celebrations of the fall of the Assad regime. The article is wrote in the form of a letter to his wife.

"Thousands have been released from Assad’s horrific prisons, but as long as your absence continues, a part of Syria will not be liberated," wrote Mr Al-Haj Saleh. "This concerns not only you and me, or your partners in absence, but tens of thousands of others, over 113,000 people whose fate is unknown, according to the most reliable human rights sources."

It is likely that Mr Nema was not involved in the kidnapping of the Douma Four but was later told what happened to them, Mr El Hajj Saleh said. The group's then leader, Zahran Alloush, also appears to have not been aware of their kidnapping, which was probably orchestrated by a handful of members that had launched a hate campaign against the victims. Mr Nema was a close friend of Alloush, who died in 2015. His nom de guerre, Islam Alloush, mirrored his boss' name.

"Jaish Al Islam are corrupt. They killed many people. And of course, they abducted my wife and my friends. Most probably, they killed them, and we don't know where they put their bodies," Mr Al-Haj Saleh said.

"Majdi Nema could well be a nobody and it's probable he wasn't involved in the crime itself. But most probably, he knows. After a month, two months, he would know what is [happened]. These are not waterproof organisations," he added.

In an article published after Mr Nema's arrest in France, Mr Al-Haj Saleh had described him as "insignificant," which has been used by his defence to minimise his role in Jaish Al Islam. "I was trying to be fair, even though he is my enemy," Mr Al-Haj Saleh said. "He was defending this organisation [Jaish Al Islam]. He was an important member. He was the speaker. So, of course he is responsible for their crimes."

Mr Al-Haj Saleh probably evaded the fate of his wife and colleagues because he had left a few weeks before their kidnapping to make the dangerous 500km trip to the eastern city of Raqqa, at the time under ISIS control, in search of his disappeared brothers. He then travelled onwards to Turkey and Germany, where he settled. "I blame myself," he said. "I might have seen the danger of Jaish Al Islam coming. I may have avoided the worst."

Zahran Alloush, centre, commander of Jaish Al Islam, during a conference in the town of Douma, eastern Ghouta, in Damascus, in August 2014. Reuters
Zahran Alloush, centre, commander of Jaish Al Islam, during a conference in the town of Douma, eastern Ghouta, in Damascus, in August 2014. Reuters

Razan Zaitouneh

The disappearance of the four activists came to symbolise the Syrian's revolution turn from peaceful anti-Assad protests to a civil war pitting Islamist factions against the regime. Ms Zaitouneh, who had received many prestigious awards for her defence of human rights as a lawyer, had a particularly high profile.

Court documents seen by The National allege that Mr Nema was aware of their disappearance, though it remains unclear to what level he was informed of its details. During hearings in court, Mr Nema said that Ms Zaitouneh had defended his brother while he was imprisoned in the infamous Sednaya prison between 2006 and 2011.

Asked if she had been able to help his brother, Mr Nema, said she could not because Syria was a police state, with a corrupt and arbitrary judiciary. "It's true that she did not do much, but in Syria, it's already a big thing that lawyers try to defend them, they can relay information and intimidate the judge," Mr Nema said.

Information found on his phone also shows that he discussed the case of the Douma Four with various people. In one undated phone call, he is asked if he knew that Ms Zaitouneh was imprisoned. "Didn't you know?" he answers.

The person then says they are dismayed by the news. "Sheikh, if only you knew how many [blood] crimes have been committed and how much injustice there has been [over there]. You cannot even imagine," answers Mr Nema. In a WhatsApp conversation, Mr Nema wrote that he believed the Douma Four had been killed "by those criminals." He did not name the subjects of his claim.

Syrian fighters and civilians carry a coffin in Hama province. Getty images
Syrian fighters and civilians carry a coffin in Hama province. Getty images

At this stage, the new authorities in Syria are unlikely to try people like Mr Nema, activists say, pointing at the interim constitution. Despite mentioning a transitional justice framework, it only cites the crimes of the Assad regime. "They see transitional justice as restricted to the crimes of the [Assad] regime and possibly ISIS. They wouldn't be happy with the idea of bringing Nema or others to justice," Mr Al-Haj Saleh said.

The Syrian government has not made an extradition request for Mr Nema. Even if it did, it would not be accepted by France because Syria still implements the death penalty.

Mr Al-Haj Saleh still has hopes that his complaint filed in Syria will eventually yield some result. "I hope there will be an opening or a new horizon related to the cause of Samira, Razan, Wael and Nazem," he said. "The fall of the regime was unpredictable. Many things have been, for better or worse, unpredictable."

To many, Syria's new leader, Mr Al Shara, is less ideologue than opportunist. "He's a Sunni supremacist more interested in power than religion," said Mr Al-Haj Saleh. "After enduring atrocities under the Assad regime, including barrel bombing and chemical attacks, the Sunni community has developed a powerful victimhood narrative. Its instinct is to keep power. This doesn't mean necessarily systematic discrimination against other groups, but they will be dealt by the Sunnis as a big brother," he added. "Nema belongs to this world."

At his trial, Mr Nema, who claims his innocence, has been doing his best to demonstrate the opposite. He portrays himself as a moderate intellectual who came to France to study. In 2016, he was kicked out of Jaish Al Islam for giving an interview to an Israeli journalist, but experts believe it was a pretext for him to leave because his attachment to the group had waned after the death of Alloush. Early in the trial, he asked to speak in English, citing comfort with the language, but the court's president declined, having only arranged for Arabic translation. He argues he should be tried in Syria, a claim rejected by prosecutors as a ploy to walk free.

Still, activists say the trial in Paris has value. "Countries like France played an important role in pursuing war crimes cases during a time when Syria had no credible judiciary. With political change under way, some may understandably wish to bring these cases home," said Samer Al Deyaei, who heads the Damascus-based Free Syrian Lawyers Association. "At this stage, it is pragmatic to view foreign prosecutions as complementary – not contradictory – to domestic justice efforts. These trials can even serve as valuable legal and ethical reference points to support the work of Syria’s future truth and reconciliation mechanisms."

Protesters gather for a vigil seeking information about Syrian activists Samira Khalil, Razan Zeitouneh, Wael Hammadeh, and Nazem Hammadi in Douma on the eastern outskirts of Damascus on January 1. AFP
Protesters gather for a vigil seeking information about Syrian activists Samira Khalil, Razan Zeitouneh, Wael Hammadeh, and Nazem Hammadi in Douma on the eastern outskirts of Damascus on January 1. AFP

If the trial yields no answers, Mr Al-Haj Saleh has considered another path: a face-to-face meeting with Mr Nema. The idea came to him during Mr Nema's five years of pretrial detention, but he ultimately dismissed it. "I thought of this two or three years ago but I found no it's not a good idea," he said. The idea made Mr Al-Haj Saleh uncomfortable. "I felt it would be a bit melodramatic. Let's see how things unfold."

For now, Mr Al-Haj Saleh, who spoke to The National as he prepared for another trip to Syria, said he would adopt a lower profile than during his previous voyage. He does not want to give the impression he is endorsing the new government. "It's still possible that I don't exist in this new Syria, like I did not exist in the old Syria," he said, pointing at his books being banned and his inability to get a passport. He will probably get one now. But will he be invited to public events? "I'm not sure," he said.

JAPANESE GRAND PRIX INFO

Schedule (All times UAE)
First practice: Friday, 5-6.30am
Second practice: Friday, 9-10.30am
Third practice: Saturday, 7-8am
Qualifying: Saturday, 10-11am
Race: Sunday, 9am-midday 

Race venue: Suzuka International Racing Course
Circuit Length: 5.807km
Number of Laps: 53
Watch live: beIN Sports HD

Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021

Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”

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At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020

Launched: 2008

Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools

Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)

Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13

 

Impact in numbers

335 million people positively impacted by projects

430,000 jobs created

10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water

50 million homes powered by renewable energy

6.5 billion litres of water saved

26 million school children given solar lighting

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Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

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Al Ghaf Honey

The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year

Sidr Honey

The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest

Samar Honey

The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments

Race card

6.30pm: Emirates Holidays Maiden (TB), Dh82,500 (Dirt), 1,900m
7.05pm: Arabian Adventures Maiden (TB), Dh82,500 (D), 1,200m
7.40pm: Emirates Skywards Handicap (TB), Dh82,500 (D), 1,200m
8.15pm: Emirates Airline Conditions (TB), Dh120,000 (D), 1,400m
8.50pm: Emirates Sky Cargo (TB), Dh92,500 (D)1,400m
9.15pm: Emirates.com (TB), Dh95,000 (D), 2,000m

Graduated from the American University of Sharjah

She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters

Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks

Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding

 

Brief scoreline:

Toss: South Africa, elected to bowl first

England (311-8): Stokes 89, Morgan 57, Roy 54, Root 51; Ngidi 3-66

South Africa (207): De Kock 68, Van der Dussen 50; Archer 3-27, Stokes 2-12

The Transfiguration

Director: Michael O’Shea

Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine

Three stars

5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai

Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:

• Dubai Marina

The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739 
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960 
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104

• Downtown

Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure.  “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154

• City Walk

The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena.  “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809 
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052 
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210 

• Jumeirah Lake Towers

Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629 
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818 
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941

• Palm Jumeirah

Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770 
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002 
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152 

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Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

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Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

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How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures

October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA

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Another way to earn air miles

In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.

An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.

“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.

Key recommendations
  • Fewer criminals put behind bars and more to serve sentences in the community, with short sentences scrapped and many inmates released earlier.
  • Greater use of curfews and exclusion zones to deliver tougher supervision than ever on criminals.
  • Explore wider powers for judges to punish offenders by blocking them from attending football matches, banning them from driving or travelling abroad through an expansion of ‘ancillary orders’.
  • More Intensive Supervision Courts to tackle the root causes of crime such as alcohol and drug abuse – forcing repeat offenders to take part in tough treatment programmes or face prison.
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Engine: 2.9L twin-turbo V6

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 450hp at 5,700rpm

Torque: 600Nm at 1,900rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 8.7L / 100km

While you're here

I Feel Pretty
Dir: Abby Kohn/Mark Silverstein
Starring: Amy Schumer, Michelle Williams, Emily Ratajkowski, Rory Scovel
 

THE SPECS

Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo

Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic

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Updated: May 19, 2025, 10:37 PM`