A daughter’s fight to find her forcibly disappeared father in Syria | Wafa Mustafa | Real Talk

Nearly 12 years after her father was arrested in 2013, and days after Bashar al-Assad was toppled, Wafa Mustafa is now going back to Syria driven by a determination to find her father.

Wafa hasn’t been back in her home country since escaping over a decade ago, shortly after her father, Ali, was forcibly disappeared by Assad’s government forces during the Syrian uprising.

Speaking just before embarking on her journey back to Syria, Wafa joined us for a personal conversation where she opens up and reflects on the fall of Assad, living in Germany, and her relentless fight to find her father.

Real Talk is a Middle East Eye interview programme hosted by Mohamed Hashem.

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:11 Reacting to Assad's fall
08:45 Documenting Syria's prisoners
14:29 CNN's viral Syrian prisoner report
17:53 Story of her father: Ali Mustafa
26:40 Palestine influence
29:08 Syria's 2011 revolution
30:54 Wafa's imprisonment
37:00 Why was her father arrested?
42:37 I'm going back to Syria
49:26 Thoughts on the West & global institutions
53:30 Everyone erases agency & struggle of Syrians
57:06 Anti-imperialist narrative
01:03:52 Relationship with memories

[zaidtanim]

She's been through a lot..People need to hear more voices like hers. Thank you for bringing her forward.
I wish her strength, safety, healing and peace as she continues to navigate her journey. May she find comfort in knowing that her voice matters and inspires others.

[erika]

The world has become a shameful place. I see the pain and suffering in this girl’s eyes and I know there are thousands more. I’m so sorry for what you are going through 😢. I’m shamed and feel so bad for what’s happening in your region. I hope you know that not everyone is Syria fatigue. The first pictures that came from Syria shake my world and at the same time opened my eyes. Please allow yourself to have a moment of comfort and joy. I think your father would agree on that. Stay strong!

[filmingandstuff]

Assad is a monster who should be brought to justice. Anyone who supported/defended him should also be brought to justice for complicity!

[camilakhalifa]

❤ Wafa, you can be proud of your family. May allah bless you.

[AudioPervert]

So sad and so mad, this loss, and outpour of suffering. Ghosts of war.

[shelleychadwick]

I would think this young lady, her sister and other women should form a group and organize a nationwide search party for missing fathers. I'm sure they would make more progress together than as individuals. Even a website or online chat group.
Sisters for Syria !!!

[CocoLov]

🥲i was the whole talk listening with tears in my eyes🥲I know Wafa from the Manifestations in Berlin for a free syria since 2015 … I have a lot of respect for what you, Wafa did and do actually🙏🏻♥️🌹 So thanks for sharing this very hard and sad story🙏🏻♥️💚

[ts]

Truly heartbreaking looking for someone forcibly disappeared

[FrostRare]

“If you want to insult someone today call them International Community” hahahabahahha

[mohamedfakkiransari]

Millions have lost their lives because of a man. How will justice be assured for dead people by killing one man? May Allah compensate for us Muslims on the Day of Reckoning.

[Water-]

It's odd, that in 2013, those who had an unfavorable opinion of Bashar were a vocal minority.

Bashar kept tabs on those of Syrian descent, that he would spy on them, and relay who their families were back in Syria, for instance, if they demonstrated against him in Europe and the USA. The scare of places like Sednaya for family members kept them quiet.

Then, others knew that Bashar was wrong. Employees of Russia, Iran and Hez would write fairytales online in support of Bashar as well, to try to discourage others. There were also religious fundamentalists going along with them. Isra wasnt innocent either, as they encouraged being apathetic.

However, Some of us always tried, bc victims of his refime didn't have enough voice. Now we're the vocal majority.

[mohamedfakkiransari]

Activists and freedom of speech against a tyrant and his army will bring more harm to themeselves and their people. How can it be a solution? It is better to hide or flee than to speak out against dangerous men with authority and armory.

[matthewpolishing]

How do you know he really did these things or the kids lied and accused him how do we know

[SamSam-dd]

You are so enraged. Is it because of your life in Germany. Be grateful. Some people do not even have a father...

[ronaldlirumo]

The question is are you going to give platform to those who lost their fathers because of the Rebel terrorists led by Jolani?

[albanianforever]

She escaped to Europe now and no hijab 😂😂

[thelastestsportnews]

Sorry to say but this interviewer isn’t the best. I’ve listened to multiple guests he had on and there are many points where the interview is awkward and he doesn’t understand the question.