For over 4 months, the population of Syria, in the wake of the movements in North Africa, has been calling for the resignation of the president, Bashar al Assad, in power for more than 11 years. But while some rebels are demonstrating against the system with marches and slogans, a new wave of young people has started firing bullets of words using spray cans.
The campaign was launched by some young people from Daraa, the city where the first riots began in mid-March, and from there it spread with a domino effect reaching Homs and other cities. The spraying men roam the streets of the city at night, always with the fear of being taken by the police. They look for the most suitable walls on which to paint logos, poems and graffiti. It has become like a dangerous game of cops and robbers: the police in all cities try to catch the spraying men.
The most famous sprayer, Mohammed Rateb, whose nickname is “????? ??????”, the tiger of Homs, died this Thursday. Since the weekend, 33 civilians have died in the city, according to activists and residents. Throughout the country, since the beginning of the protests, there have been at least 1.400 victims.
Now the spotlights are on Ahmad Khanji, the Damascus graffiti man. According to his Facebook page, Ahmed was spotted on July 8 while running away from some individuals armed with knives. Later a prisoner said he saw him in a cell covered in blood and marks clearly due to torture. A Facebook group has now been created to ask for his release.
The authorities reacted to the campaign by banning the sale of spray in all shops.
Sources: AlArabiya
