Mr Al-Shurbaji had participated in and helped organise peaceful protests since mass demonstrations began in Syria. His long-term engagement for human rights and democracy actually began with the creation of a peaceful organisation that grouped young people living in Daraya, Damascus aiming to fight corruption and to develop civic engagement by keeping the streets clean. Many of the group's members have already been arrested and are currently missing, or, as in the shocking case of Mr Mattar, who was in the car and was arrested with Mr Al-Shurbaji, have been killed under torture.

The enforced disappearances of human rights defenders which have occurred so far in Daraya and throughout the country are part of the larger context of human rights violations taking place in Syria following the anti-government protests calling for a more just and freer society. Because of the violent repression by the government seeking to crush demonstrations, on 23 August 2011 resolution 17/1 by the Human rights Council established a Commission of Enquiry to study the human rights situation in Syria.