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Ali Al Shihabi was not only an English teacher in Al Yarmouk Refugee Camp working at the UNRWA school but he is also an author. Amongst others, he wrote the books The new structure of the world and Syria, where to?. Moreover, he was among the intellectuals who signed the Declaration of Beirut-Damascus in 2006, calling for the establishment of diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria and for Syria to recognise Lebanon's independence. In relation to these activities, he was arrested and referred to the public prosecutor in Damascus in October 2006. During this and previous detention, he also reported to have been subjected to severe torture.
On 17 December 2012, Mr Al Shihabi's relatives were not able to reach him by phone anymore. They subsequently tried to take appropriated measures to investigate and establish his fate and whereabouts with the security service believed to be behind his enforced disappearance, but to no avail. They had no news of him since his disappearance.
Alkarama fears for Al Shihabi's life as well as his mental and physical integrity, as he may be subjected to severe torture while being disappeared. We therefore submitted his case to the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearance and other UN Special Procedures on 15 March 2013 and asked for their urgent intervention in favour of him.