Tahrir al-Sham assassinates Kafranbel’s prominent activists

(Zaman Al Wasl)- Raed al-Fares and Hamoud Junaid, two Syrian pro-democracy activists and citizen journalists, were shot dead Friday by Syria's former al-Qaeda branch in the village of Kafrabel in northern Idlib province.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an alliance led by formerly-known Jabhat al-Nusra which is the dominant force in Idlib, has killed most of its opponents including citizen journalists and human rights advocates.

It has silenced most of its critics, local activists say.

Tahrir al-Sham and other hardline groups have refused to pull out their fighters from Idlib despite the de-militarized zone which was announced by rebel backer Ankara and Moscow in September to separate regime troops from rebel fighters in Idlib and adjacent areas.

"Fares became involved in the resistance movement during the Arab Spring when he filmed protests and distributed them to Arab TV stations.

There will be no end to their spirit and beauty in death. Rest In peace Raed Fares, Hamood Jneid and Khaled Issa before them. And live on as icons of the nonviolent struggle against the iron fist of the fascists, those in neckties and those with beards. pic.twitter.com/F8OSrNBeiG

— Kareem Shaheen (@kshaheen) November 23, 2018 ew Roman">He was known for his eye-catching writing and protest signs that mock both Assad and ISIS.

Fares also used controversial English-language protest banners to address the West’s mediocre response to the Syrian crisis.

From Kafranbel, a small village in northern Syria, Fares and his colleagues operate the radio station that played a pivotal role in the retaking of the town from pro-Assad forces and the establishment of a new civil society there.

In early 2014, Fares was attacked by ISIS militants near his home and shot at more than 40 times, taking two bullets to his right side.

Despite his many injuries, he returned to Kafranbel a month later to continue his work. As a civil society leader in his town, Fares emphasized the importance of women’s education and training centers, which provide women with the skills to take active roles in their communities, "according to a presentation by Oslo Freedom Forum.

"There will be no end to their spirit and beauty in death. Rest In peace Raed, Khaled, and Hamood. And live on as icons of the nonviolent struggle against the iron fist of the fascists, those in neckties and those with beards."

Kareem Shaheen, Former Turkey and Middle East correspondent for the Guardian.