Khaled Bakrawi: activist of unforgettable chivalry

By Faris al-Rifai; Translation by Yusra Ahmed

(Zaman Al Wasl)- Many activists of aid and relief died in Palestinian camps during the war in Syria, either by the heavy shelling on camps, or by snipers, or even died under torture in detention centers.

Khaled Bakrawi, an aid activist in the Palestinian Yarmouk refugee camp died in detention center, two months following his arrest late 2012.

“Words about Khaled Bakrawi” a documentary produced by Artist and activist Mohamed Zaghmout tells the activist’s hard work and devotion to help his people.

“Khalid -the camp- as his friends used to name him, was an icon of aid and relief work inside Palestinian camps all over Syria, he participated in funerals, educated youth by many lectures, and supported displaced children.”

Zaghmout adds that Jafra institution and Youth Centers, Palestinian Youth Movement and Palestinian media in camps, all of them witnessed Khalid’s activities and work those gave big help and delivered significant services to Palestinian camps and worked hard to deliver the Palestinians’ voice in International conferences.

Zaghmout mentions that Khaled was friend of many martyrs like Ahmad Kousa and Bassam Hamidi who died by shilling Yarmouk camp.

Zaghmout mentioned that Bakrawi was injured by Israeli shooting during the “Palestinian Return Demonstration” which took place in Golan at the Syrian-Palestinian border in 2011, but that had not stopped him from keeping his work to help his people.

He founded Jafra Institution to help in elevating the suffering of Syrian people who were displaced to Yarmouk.

Abo Mohamed al-Yarmouki said that Khalid was the true face of help in Yarmouk camp.

Al-Yamouki added that Khalid even before the revolution and commitment of the camp in the Syrian revolution, had founded Jafra Institution, and changed its old face as part of the Common Front, the badly reputed Palestinian organization.

“When the Syrian revolution has reached Southern Damascus, Khaled via Jafra Institution helped many refugees and displaced people from Tadamon, Hajar Aswad and Babila. He supported children who were forced to live in schools” al-Yarmouki details.

Bakrawi was arrested in Mezza in the end of 2012, he died under torture two months later, but his death was confirmed in August 2013. Many rumors were circulated about him during his detention, especially by the Syrian regime, one of them that he moved to Lebanon to work there.