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Prominent Human Rights Activist Assassinated in Idleb

Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently member shot in the head in front of Sinjar home by masked man
Prominent Human Rights Activist Assassinated in Idleb

Ahmed Mohammed Mousa, a member of the Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently team, was killed near his home in the town of Sinjar, Idleb countryside, on the evening of Wednesday, December 16.

Sarmad Gilani, one of the founders of the campaign, said: "A masked man on a motorcycle shot Ahmed with two bullets in the head in front of his house, which killed him instantly."

"We are trying to protect ourselves by all means available, we have changed our locations after the slaughter of our friend, Ibrahim Abdul Qader, but now we can do nothing but to pray, especially after they reached us within the Turkish city of Urfa, and in the opposition-held Idleb province," Gilani told Enab Baladi.

On June 22, ISIS militants executed the father of Ahmed Mousa after arresting him for three months and confiscating his home and shop in Raqqa.

Ahmed was not the first member of the campaign team to be assassinated, as the team already lost Ibrahim Abdul Qader, who was found beheaded in his home in the Turkish city of Urfa. ISIS has also executed al-Mutaz Bellah, Sham Network reporter and member of the campaign team, in May 2014.

A group of activists in the city of Raqqa launched a campaign on April 16, 2014, dedicated to documenting the violations committed by ISIS in the city. The campaign team consists of 17 members distributed between Raqqa and Turkey.

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently campaign has won several awards in the past few months, with its members being honored for working in the “world’s most dangerous place.” The team’s list of awards includes the America Abroad Media Award, and the CPJ World Press Freedom Award.

Ahmed Mohammed Mousa was born in 1992, and is the elder brother of Hamoud Mousa, one of the founders of the campaign, and he defected from Assad's army in 2012. Ahmed left Raqqa after he learned ISIS had issued an order for his arrest.

Ahmed settled in Idleb province at the beginning of this year in a relative’s house, where he continued his work in documenting ISIS violations in Raqqa province.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.

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