In Syria's war, at least 180 athletes killed, 200 arrested

Reporting by Hazem Dakel; translation by Yusra Ahmed

No one is safe or protected in the war-torn country, especially by the Syrian regime where all people are subject to be arrested, detained or tortured to death in the regime’s prisons, even athletes, who in theory, should be looked after to bring glory to the country.

Amer, a talented 19-year old young man from Idlib, dreamed to be a footballer in Barcelona team. However his dream ended in Syrian regime’s prisons when he was detained for 6 months under terrorism accusation. He was known of his strong personality as he was responsible to look after his family of six siblings with a mother where they lived I Kaboun, then in Barzah after attack and siege of Kaboun.

Waleed is another example of talented basketball player, who used to play in al-Karamah basketball team and the Syrian Youth team. He found no choice but to leave the country to save his life. “I was forced to leave the country in the first year of revolution after being threatened of arrest, I had to leave to North of Iraq, I play there for an acceptable salary” Waleed said in pain.

A father told the story of his son on condition of anonymous, as his athletic son used to play in a team in Damascus, then got detained. The father had no option but to pay more than S.P 2 million to a sergeant to release him. Thereafter, he sent him to live securely in a liberated area. “my son has swore not to come back to play in any team in Damascus till the regime is overthrown” the father confirmed.

Badi’a, another talented, table-ball player and a member in the national team of table-ball, was forced to leave the country after Shabiha and security forces raid his house in Idlib. He decided to leave to Turkey to find a job rather than practicing his best hobby, as he felt it inconvenient to do sport in the middle of that difficult circumstances and daily death and killing people. “we have lost interest in anything in life” he summarized.

Monzer Akbik, the chief of staff to the leader of the Syrian National Coalition, said in a speech to Zaman Alwasl that Syrian regime has targeted not only athletes, but Doctors, engineers, all educated people and others. He added that reason behind targeting athletes was their fame and effects on community and other people in convincing them to join the revolution . He confirmed the Coalition’s support to the General Authority for Sport and Youth, and revealed that many Karate player were honored by the Minister of Education for their achievement in Kosovo.

Orwa Kanawati, the spokesman for the General Authority for Sport and Youth in Syria commented on the fact that Syrian regime has targeted athletes saying: “it is well known that sport is very important aspect in Syria, since the start of the Syrian revolution, the regime wanted to use athletes in suppressing demonstration, when some of them rejected killing their people, the regime targeted them either by detention or killing”

Kanawati added that till the end of 2013, 182 athletes were documented to be killed, and 198 were arrested. He thinks that regime wanted to threaten families and friends of athletes to stop supporting revolution or the armed opposition or to prevent them from defection from their clubs.