Razan Zeitouneh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Razan Zaitouneh
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| رزان زيتونة | |
Razan Zeitouneh received the International Women of Courage Award from the U.S. Department of State in 2013.
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| Born | April 29, 1977 |
Razan Zaitouneh (pronounced Rah-zahn Zay-too-nah) is a Syrian human rights lawyer and activist. She was born on April 29, 1977. A human rights lawyer works to protect the basic rights and freedoms of all people. An activist works to bring about social or political change. In March 2013, Razan received a special award called the International Women of Courage Award from the U.S. State Department. In December 2013, she disappeared in Syria.
Contents
Her Early Life and Activism
Razan Zaitouneh was an important part of the 2011 Syrian uprising. This was a time when many people in Syria protested against their government. She worked to record and share information about human rights issues in Syria. This meant she wrote down unfair things that were happening to people.
The government accused her of being a "foreign agent." This means they said she was working for another country against Syria. Because of this, she had to go into hiding to stay safe. Her husband was also arrested.
Education and Important Work
Razan Zaitouneh finished law school in 1999. In 2001, she started working as a lawyer. She joined a team of lawyers who defended political prisoners. These are people put in jail because of their beliefs or actions against the government.
In the same year, she helped start the Human Rights Association in Syria (HRAS). In 2005, Razan created SHRIL (the Syrian Human Rights Information Link). This group reported on problems with human rights in Syria. Also in 2005, she became part of a group that supported the families of political prisoners.
Awards and Recognition
Razan Zaitouneh has received many important awards for her brave work. On October 27, 2011, she was given the 2011 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. She shared this award with four other Arab activists. This prize is given to people who fight for human rights and freedom.
In 2011, she also received the Anna Politkovskaya Award. In 2012, she won the Ibn Rushd Prize for Freedom of Thought in Berlin. Then, in 2013, she received the International Women of Courage Award.
Her Disappearance
In December 2013, news websites that supported the opposition reported that Razan Zaitouneh had disappeared. She was taken along with her husband, Wael Hamadeh, and two friends, Samira Khalil and Nazem Hammadi. This happened in a town called Douma, which was controlled by groups against the government.
As of February 4, 2014, no one knew where they were. It was not clear who took them. Some people thought it might have been a rebel group. Razan Zaitouneh's location is still unknown today.
See also
In Spanish: Razan Zaitouneh para niños
