Khalil Matouk

Khalil Matouk is a prominent human rights lawyer who provides legal assistance to victims of human rights abuses in Syria, including to fellow human rights defenders. Khalil Matouk, who is a member of the Syrian Bar Association, is also the executive director of the Syrian Centre for Legal Studies and Research. He has defended hundreds of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Syria, and has been outspoken about government abuses in Syria. The state has punished Khalil Ma’touq for his work in the past. He was banned from travelling between 2005 and 2011. Khalil Ma’touq disappeared on 2 October 2012, and has not been seen since. The Syrian government denies any involvement in Khalil Ma’touq's diappearance. However, released detainees have reported seeing him in various detention facilities across Damascus.