Islam Dabbas, just 22 years old, saw the effectiveness of the nonviolent "fraternization" strategy in Syria. Activists offered water bottles to soldiers, treating them as human beings with a choice, and in the process changing their hearts. Islam became one of the nonviolent resistance's most avid proponents, bringing water bottles and flowers to soldiers even after his father, Khairo Dabbas, was imprisoned.
The Syrian regime witnessed the effectiveness of this strategy too. The regime seemed to feel so threatened by the greater force of love over hate that it targeted Islam for imprisonment and torture.
On July 22, 2011, soldiers surrounded and captured Islam, with the flowers still in his hands. Read more about Islam Dabbas.
Take Action Now
Call on the Syrian embassy to the United States and the Syrian UN office to release nonviolent activist Islam Dabbas immediately. Human rights workers in Syria tell us that raising the profile of a prisoner of conscience holds the regime accountable — because they know the world is aware that they have this detainee in custody. When a prisoner is held incommunicado, and no one is raising the detainee’s name, this puts the person at extraordinary risk.
While we've written a suggested letter below, feel free to modify it or add to it in your own words. Personalized letters from the heart can and do move people to action. Mentioning a prisoner by name and detention date helps increase a letter's effectiveness. Your letter will also be copied to the Arab League and the United Nations Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry on Syria.
Islam Dabbas, just 22 years old, saw the effectiveness of the nonviolent "fraternization" strategy in Syria. Activists offered water bottles to soldiers, treating them as human beings with a choice, and in the process changing their hearts. Islam became one of the nonviolent resistance's most avid proponents, bringing water bottles and flowers to soldiers even after his father, Khairo Dabbas, was imprisoned.