Yahya Shurbaji

Who is Yahya Shurbaji?

Yahia Sharbaji is a Syrian political activist and part of the Daraya Youth, a group of activists known for non-violence convictions and change through civic actions.

He was born in Daraya, a suburb of Damascus on 21 December 1979. He studied at the Faculty of Science of Damascus University but did not finish his degree. He was one of a group of activists who were called the Daraya Youths.

He participated in a number of civil action between 1989 and 2003 when he was arrested for 2 years. He also participated in many demonstrations during Syrian uprising, while insisting on non-violence of the action on the ground, including: not insulting or provoking regime soldiers and security forces, giving flowers to army soldiers who were sent to crush the protests, and giving water bottles to soldiers

He was arrested with his brother Ma'an Shurbaji and friend Ghayath Matar on September 6, 2011, and has not been released since. The body of Ghayath Matar was sent back to his parents with clear signs of torture and mutilation.