In Syria, those who stand up for democracy, and for women’s rights in particular, continue to lose their lives. On the morning of 27 February, the Syrian human rights activist Heba Haj Aref was found dead in the town of Bza’a in the eastern rural governorate of Aleppo. She had been hanged. The well-known local women’s rights activist had long been on the "blacklist" of the pro-Turkish militias that militarily control this region in Syria and who have repeatedly persecuted or murdered dissenting members of the opposition in the past. Heba Haj Aref was a member of the Syrian Political Women’s Movement, the Syrian Women’s Network, the Women’s Support and Empowerment Unit and the local council of the city of Bza’ah. Especially because of her former membership in the local council in May 2023, the undaunted activist was subjected to several defamation and smear campaigns by various armed militias from the ranks of the Syrian National Army (SNA), which were neither repudiated nor investigated by the local authorities or by the military leaders in the region.
Heba was in her thirties and came from the city of Bza’a. After she was compelled to leave the local council due to the intimidations, she worked as an educational counselor in a local educational institution for young people. But even here, she continued to be seriously threatened by various armed militias because of her commitment to women’s rights. Most recently, she also reached out to our Syrian colleague Joumana Seif to convey these threats to her personal safety, as well as to highlight the danger that democracy activists in Syria still face today.
On 19 January, ECCHR and Syrians for Truth and Justice filed a criminal complaint calling on the German Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the crimes committed by Turkish-backed armed groups in northern Syria.
The death of Heba Haj Aref is yet another example of the ongoing crimes and violations committed by these pro-Turkish militias. In Syria, feminist activists in particular continue to exposed to dangers to life and limb. Heba leaves behind two young sons. Our sympathy goes out especially to them and their whole family.
