An interview with Razan Ghazzawi

Last month, February 2013, Razan Ghazzawi was interviewed by Front Line Defenders where she talks about the revolution in Syria. She tells her story and recalls the personal toll it has taken on her and her colleagues from the Syrian Centre for Media & Freedom of Expression, how she and her colleagues were imprisoned, interwoven with the story of how "this revolution is starting to build consciousness for Syrians."

Three Syrian Media Centre staff remain imprisoned today for their work defending freedom of expression: Mazen Darwish, Hani Zitani, and Husain Ghrer. Two other detainees, Mansur Omari and Abdulrahman Hamada, were released in February 2013, after nearly a year of wrongful detention.

One thing that particuarly moved me was when Razan said,

"...Its not something easy to be insulted, it's a karameh revolution, it's a dignity revolution and to be insulted in your office by someone getting in with their rifles, its something unacceptable..."

Razan Ghazzawi Released

Razan Ghazzawi was released tonight. Her sister Nadine tweeted this earlier this evening :-)

#FreeRazan #Syria It's raining Razans… hallelujah :) It's official, sis is out! hopefully the same goes to all arrested sisters and brothers.

 I am happy for her release, and hope all other political detainees will be released soon.

Razan Ghazzawi Update

Razan Ghazzawi has now been charged with three crimes, according to this article in The Daily Star': “establishing an organization that aims to change the social and economical entity of the state,” “weakening the national sentiment, and trying to ignite sectarian strife," which could lead her with a prison sentence between 3 - 15 years.

Razan Ghazzawi

I start my first post of the month on Razan Ghazzawi, a 30 year old woman, who is well known for speaking out on Palestine, LGBT issues and of course on Syria via her blog and twitter account. She was born in the United States, though has never lived there but in Jeddah and in Syria.  

Razan Ghazzawi was recently detained by security forces in Syria near the Jordanian border (on the 4th December 2011). Close friends/family say that she was on her way to a workshop in Jordan organised by her employer, the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression, when she was arrested. One friend told Reuters, “She was arrested as she presented her passport to immigration at the Syrian border post of Nassib to cross to Jordan.” Her sister, Nadine Ghazzawi, recently joined Twitter, where she posts updates on Razan's arrest and subsequent detainment.

Raising awareness of Razan's case across the world, will highlight the abuses that Syrians face in Syria for writing the truth, highlighting abuses and asking for a better future. Razan Ghazzawi is amongst thousands detained across the whole of Syria. Please spend a moment dedicating a tweet or Facebook message or even mention to your friends. 

I shall leave you with a quote from Razan Ghazzawi herself:

"The Syrian regime does not fear those imprisoned but those who do not forget them."