Ghiath Matar

Ghiath Matar was a Syrian activist who became known for giving flowers to soldiers in his home town of Darayya.

Ghiath Matar
Born	(1986-10-08)October 8, 1986 Darayya, Syria
Died	September 2011(2011-09-00) (aged 24) Syria
Cause of death	Torture
Occupation(s)	Tailor, Political Activist

Death

Ghiath was arrested on 6 September 2011 by the security forces of the Syrian government. ^[1] Four days later, his body was returned to his family with scars and sores resulting from severe torture. ^[2] His funeral was attended by the ambassadors of the United States, ^[3] Japan, Germany, France and Denmark. When Ghiath died, his wife was expecting their first baby. ^[4] The baby was named after his father.

Ghiath Matar became a symbol of peaceful resistance of the Syrian revolution. ^[5]

A documentary on Matar, by the filmmaker Sam Kadi, Little Gandhi , was a winner at the Independent European Film Festival in April 2016, winning the Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking. ^[6]

References

1. Ashton, Catherine (12 September 2011). "Statement by the spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the killing of Ghiath Matar by Syrian security forces and on the detention of other human rights activists in Syria" (PDF). Council of the European Union. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
2. "Syria : death of opposition member Ghiath Matar under torture (September 12, 2011)". France Diplomatie. Archived from the original on 30 March 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
3. "Syria unrest: Troops 'open fire in north-west'". BBC News . 14 September 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
4. Abeer (September 11, 2011). "Joint statement about martyrdom of activist Ghiath Matar". LCC Syria. Archived from the original on 6 August 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
5. Whitaker, Brian; Davies, Lizzy (1 May 2012). "Syria, Bahrain and Middle East - Tuesday 1 May". The Guardian . Retrieved 26 August 2012.
6. detroitfreepress