Hamza Ali Al-Khateeb (Arabic: حمزة علي الخطيب; October 24, 1997 – May 25, 2011) was a 13-year-old Syrian boy who died while in the custody of the Syrian government[1] in Daraa. On April 29, 2011, he was detained during a protest. On May 25, 2011, his body was delivered to his family, having been badly bruised, along with burn marks, three gunshot wounds, and severed genitals. Hamza's family distributed photos and video of his body to journalists and activists. Shocked by what was depicted, thousands of people showed their support for Hamza online and in street protests.
Hamza lived with his parents in the village of al-Jeezah in Daraa Governorate.[2] He enjoyed watching his homing pigeons fly above his house since drought had left him unable to enjoy swimming. He had a reputation for being generous. "He would often ask his parents for money to give to the poor. I remember once he wanted to give someone 100 Syrian Pounds ($2), and his family said it was too much. But Hamza said, 'I have a bed and food while that guy has nothing.' And so he persuaded his parents to give the poor man the 100," his cousin told Al Jazeera.[3]
Tortureedit
Al-Jazeera reported that he was not interested in politics, according to an unnamed cousin, but on April 29, 2011, he joined his family in a rally to break the siege of the city of Daraa. "Everybody seemed to be going to the protest, so he went along as well," said his cousin. Hamza walked with friends and family 12 km along the road from al-Jeezah north-west to Saida. Firing began almost as the protesters reached Saida. Hamza's cousin reported: "People were killed and wounded, some were arrested. It was chaotic we didn't know at that point what had happened to Hamza. He just disappeared." One source says that Hamza had been among 51 protesters detained by Air Force Intelligence, which detainees allegedly described as having a reputation for brutal torture.[3]
Mutilationedit
A still image from the video Hamza's relatives made chronicling his various wounds, following the return of his body to them by the Syrian government, one month after Hamza was detained
A video of his body filmed several days after his death showed numerous injuries, including broken bones, gunshot wounds, burn marks, and mutilated genitals.[4]The Globe and Mail summarized: "His jaw and both kneecaps had been smashed. His flesh was covered with cigarette burns. His penis had been cut off. Other injuries appeared to be consistent with the use of electroshock devices and being whipped with a cable."[2]
Following the broadcast, by Al Jazeera, of a video showing Hamza's body there was widespread outrage, both online and amongst the protesters in Syria.[2]
In response to Al Jazeera's story, the chief of Syria regime's medical examiners association, denied that Hamza was tortured.[5][6][7]
Hamza's name became a rallying cry for protesters. A Facebook page honouring him had more than 105,000 followers by May 2011.[8] Following the pattern of demonstrators calling Fridays a "day of rage", Saturdays in Syria were called the "day of Hamza".[2]
On May 31, 2011, U.S. Secretary of StateHillary Clinton marked his death as a turning point in the Syrian uprising, indicating that it "symbolises for many Syrians ... the total collapse of any effort by the Syrian government to work with and listen to their own people".[9]
On March 14, 2012, The Guardian released 3,000 emails leaked from Asma al-Assad, Bashar al-Assad's wife, and her father, Fawas Akhras. Akhras had emailed Bashar al-Assad, instructing him to respond to allegations that children are tortured in Syria by dismissing it as "British propaganda".[10]
^"حريات وحقوق - أخبار - تعذيب حتى الموت في سوريا". Aljazeera.net. 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
^"The story of Hamza a 13-year-old boy - CNN iReport". Ireport.cnn.com. 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
^Londo, Ernesto (2011-05-29). "Torture of boy reinvigorates Syria's protest movement". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
^كلنا الشهيد الطفل حمزة علي الخطيب. Facebook (in Arabic). May 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
^"API report, "Clinton says death, alleged tortured of boy shows 'total collapse' of Syria's reform effort"". Reuters via Dawn.com. June 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
^Booth, Robert (2012-03-15). "Assad emails: father-in-law gave advice from UK during crackdown". The Guardian. London.
External linksedit
Syrian Free Press segment showing Hamza's body on YouTube
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Hamza Ali Al Khateeb Arabic حمزة علي الخطيب October 24 1997 May 25 2011 was a 13 year old Syrian boy who died while in the custody of the Syrian government 1 in Daraa On April 29 2011 he was detained during a protest On May 25 2011 his body was delivered to his family having been badly bruised along with burn marks three gunshot wounds and severed genitals Hamza s family distributed photos and video of his body to journalists and activists Shocked by what was depicted thousands of people showed their support for Hamza online and in street protests Hamza Ali Al KhateebBornحمزة علي الخطيبOctober 24 1997Al Jiza Daraa SyriaDiedMay 25 2011 aged 13 Daraa SyriaCause of deathTorture and mutilation and or gunshotNationalitySyrianKnown forDetainment torture and murder that sparked Syrian protests Contents 1 Background 2 Torture 3 Mutilation 4 Backlash and impact 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksBackground editHamza lived with his parents in the village of al Jeezah in Daraa Governorate 2 He enjoyed watching his homing pigeons fly above his house since drought had left him unable to enjoy swimming He had a reputation for being generous He would often ask his parents for money to give to the poor I remember once he wanted to give someone 100 Syrian Pounds 2 and his family said it was too much But Hamza said I have a bed and food while that guy has nothing And so he persuaded his parents to give the poor man the 100 his cousin told Al Jazeera 3 Torture editAl Jazeera reported that he was not interested in politics according to an unnamed cousin but on April 29 2011 he joined his family in a rally to break the siege of the city of Daraa Everybody seemed to be going to the protest so he went along as well said his cousin Hamza walked with friends and family 12 km along the road from al Jeezah north west to Saida Firing began almost as the protesters reached Saida Hamza s cousin reported People were killed and wounded some were arrested It was chaotic we didn t know at that point what had happened to Hamza He just disappeared One source says that Hamza had been among 51 protesters detained by Air Force Intelligence which detainees allegedly described as having a reputation for brutal torture 3 Mutilation edit nbsp A still image from the video Hamza s relatives made chronicling his various wounds following the return of his body to them by the Syrian government one month after Hamza was detainedA video of his body filmed several days after his death showed numerous injuries including broken bones gunshot wounds burn marks and mutilated genitals 4 The Globe and Mail summarized His jaw and both kneecaps had been smashed His flesh was covered with cigarette burns His penis had been cut off Other injuries appeared to be consistent with the use of electroshock devices and being whipped with a cable 2 Following the broadcast by Al Jazeera of a video showing Hamza s body there was widespread outrage both online and amongst the protesters in Syria 2 In response to Al Jazeera s story the chief of Syria regime s medical examiners association denied that Hamza was tortured 5 6 7 Backlash and impact editFurther information 2011 Syrian revolution nbsp Hamza Ali Al Khateeb hunting Bashar Al Assad by Carlos Latuff Hamza s name became a rallying cry for protesters A Facebook page honouring him had more than 105 000 followers by May 2011 8 Following the pattern of demonstrators calling Fridays a day of rage Saturdays in Syria were called the day of Hamza 2 On May 31 2011 U S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton marked his death as a turning point in the Syrian uprising indicating that it symbolises for many Syrians the total collapse of any effort by the Syrian government to work with and listen to their own people 9 On March 14 2012 The Guardian released 3 000 emails leaked from Asma al Assad Bashar al Assad s wife and her father Fawas Akhras Akhras had emailed Bashar al Assad instructing him to respond to allegations that children are tortured in Syria by dismissing it as British propaganda 10 See also editDeath of Khaled Mohamed Saeed Death of Ali Jawad al Sheikh Death of Ali Abdulhadi Mushaima Death of Ahmed Jaber al Qattan Death of Alan Kurdi Mohamed Bouazizi Omran DaqneeshGeneral List of kidnappings List of solved missing person casesReferences edit Londo Ernesto 2011 05 29 Apparent torture of boy propelled Syria s protest movement Washingtonpost com Retrieved 2011 06 02 a b c d Sonia Verma How a 13 year old became a symbol of Syrian revolution Toronto The Globe and Mail Retrieved 2011 06 02 a b Hugh Macleod and Annasofie Flamand Tortured and killed Hamza al Khateeb age 13 Features Al Jazeera English Retrieved 2011 06 02 Sundby Alex Syrian boy s brutal death rouses protesters Cbsnews com Retrieved 2011 06 02 حريات وحقوق أخبار تعذيب حتى الموت في سوريا Aljazeera net 2011 05 27 Retrieved 2011 06 02 The story of Hamza a 13 year old boy CNN iReport Ireport cnn com 2011 05 27 Retrieved 2011 06 02 Londo Ernesto 2011 05 29 Torture of boy reinvigorates Syria s protest movement The Washington Post Retrieved 2011 06 02 كلنا الشهيد الطفل حمزة علي الخطيب Facebook in Arabic May 2011 Retrieved 2 June 2011 API report Clinton says death alleged tortured of boy shows total collapse of Syria s reform effort Reuters via Dawn com June 2011 Retrieved 2011 06 02 Booth Robert 2012 03 15 Assad emails father in law gave advice from UK during crackdown The Guardian London External links editSyrian Free Press segment showing Hamza s body on YouTube AlJazeera segment showing Hamza s body on YouTube AlJazeera coverage of support protests for Hamza CNN s AC360 incident segment CNN s John Roberts review Archived 2011 08 04 at the Wayback Machine CNN segment on protest response Archived 2011 08 07 at the Wayback Machine Portals nbsp Biography nbsp Asia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Death of Hamza Ali Al Khateeb amp oldid 1186763140, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
