A mural in Daraa highlights issue of the missing and forcibly disappeared

Daraa, Syria (SANA)- A mural being executed by artists from Daraa as part of the “You Are with Us” campaign encapsulates dozens of faces symbolizing all segments of society who were subjected to enforced disappearance or detention under the previous regime.

The campaign, launched by the “We Can” volunteer team in collaboration with the “Justice and Empowerment” and “Mercy Without Borders” organizations, and in coordination with the Daraa City Council on Saturday, aims to shed light on the issue of the forcibly disappeared, missing, and detained, commemorating their memory.

Nadine Ahmed, the initiative’s coordinator, explained in a statement to SANA that the campaign was launched simultaneously in the governorates of Daraa, Idlib, and Damascus, with plans to expand it to include the rest of the governorates.

Regarding the choice of the mural’s location on the wall of the School Health Department, she clarified that it was coordinated with the Daraa City Council to ensure its organization in a way that enhances the city’s visual aesthetics.

She pointed out that the participating team of painters is entirely voluntary, and they had contacted the initiative to contribute to this purposeful artistic work.

She added: “Through this campaign, we want to highlight the issue of these individuals and raise the fundamental question: Where are they now?”

Volunteer Haneen Quteifan mentioned that participating in this work is an emotionally charged experience. She said, “We are not just drawing images, but we are drawing hope that the voices of these people will reach the whole world.”

Artist Ahmed al-Faqih described the experience as both an artistic and humanitarian challenge to highlight the suffering of the missing and forcibly disappeared, and to reflect their stories through their faces, which remain etched in the community’s memory.

The “You Are with Us” campaign continues its work in Daraa, hoping to extend to the rest of the governorates, based on the belief that art plays a role in conveying humanitarian issues and anchoring them in the conscience of society.

Rafah al-Allouni/ Ruaa al-Jazaeri