Yassin al-Haj Saleh returns to Damascus searching for his missing wife

In early January 2025, Yassin al-Haj Saleh, a prominent Syrian writer and former political prisoner, made his first return to Douma in Eastern Ghouta since his exile 11 years prior. The visit marked a poignant attempt to reconnect with his roots and search for information regarding his missing wife, Samira al-Khalil, a human rights activist who was abducted in December 2013. Her disappearance occurred alongside prominent figures, including Razan Zaitouneh, her husband Wael Hamada, and poet Nazem Hamadi, during a tumultuous period when they were documenting the violence and atrocities committed amid the Syrian uprising against Bashar al-Assad's regime. During his visit, Saleh addressed a group of around 50 young activists and former detainees, expressing a deep yearning for closure regarding the fate of his wife and the others who vanished during the conflict. He emphasized the dual nature of his demands: the hope for their release if they are still alive, and the necessity for complete transparency regarding what had happened if they had perished. Saleh's journey symbolizes not just a personal quest but a broader pursuit of justice for the numerous Syrians who have faced abduction throughout the ongoing civil unrest. Saleh's return to his homeland is imbued with a sense of urgency. The community around him has suffered greatly; many family members have sought information about the fates of their loved ones. His appeal for justice is not merely a personal one but echoes the sentiments held by tens of thousands who have experienced similar tragedies. He posited that gaining insight into these disappearances is essential for healing and for the future stabilization of Syria. While speaking to activists, he highlighted that the resolution of these cases holds symbolic weight, providing comfort to those affected and establishing a basis for potential legal action. As he revisited the place where his wife was last known to be, Saleh confronted the stark reality of a neighborhood now inhabited by others unaware of the events that unfolded in those very walls; the apartment where his wife and her colleagues had once sought safety is now taken over by a new family. This illustrates the transformative yet tragic impact of the Syrian civil war on everyday life, reminding individuals like Saleh that the shadows of the past continue to linger amid efforts to move forward.