On September 10, 2012, Janette Khawand is on high alert as her phone rings. On the other side of the line is a Syrian refugee who claims he has information regarding her husband: Boutros Khawand.
Janette is usually quite careful when it comes to such information. She rarely believes what she is told unless tangible evidence or at least some credibility can be provided as back up. Given her extensive experience, most leaks are usually provided by Syrian regime puppets so as to throw her off.
But this particular refugee provided her with leads that incited her to follow through with the issue. She decided to listen to what he had to say despite the aim of his call.
Janette set up an appointment with the refugee and al-Joumhouriyah newspaper tagged along for the ride.
“Your husband is still alive and is in the hands of the Nusra Front”, the refugee told her, adding that the group led by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani broke into a Syrian regime-controlled prison and apprehended Khawand who is in bad shape and unable to walk.
At that particular moment, the writer says, we tied this info to what Kataeb Leader Amine Gemayel had reached a while back when politicians reached out to Syrian opposition figures. A witness at the time had divulged that he had seen Boutros Khawand in one of the jails, right before he left the grounds.
Gemayel immediately tasked the said Lebanese politicians with working with their Syrian friends so as to further inquire about the accuracy of this information. If it turns out true, an initiative will be launched so as to free Khawand.
Will the Syrian refugee’s information turn out true? Will a lead finally satisfy Khawand family?
Janette listened to his story thoroughly but failed to believe him, noting that this man’s tale was aimed at lifting the responsibility for her husband’s disappearance off the regime’s back.
Nonetheless, Janette didn’t completely dismiss what the man had provided her with, including the phone number of a woman who reportedly knew where Khawand was being held in Syria. Janette attempted to contact her but failed on the first try.
Following multiple attempts she finally answered but in vain, as she provided the grieving wife with nothing to go on.
Janette is no longer sure her husband is alive. As for her interpretation of the refugee’s stunt, she believes it’s just another attempt by the regime to deceive her.
“Even if the Nusra Front has my husband now, I still blame the regime for his safety,” she said, noting that it was the regime that kidnapped him and hid him for all these years.
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