A thirty-two-year-old media activist, Wisam al Ahmad from Homs city, works as a cameraman for “Watan Radio”, was arrested by the Syrian Democratic Forces’ personnel in a raid on his home near State Security Circle northwest of Raqqa city on May 16, 2022. He was taken to an undisclosed location.
SNHR notes that the arrest was carried out without a warrant, and the detainee’s family members weren’t given any information about his detention. His phone was confiscated, and he hasn’t been allowed to contact any family members or a lawyer. We fear he will be subjected to torture, and go on to become forcibly disappeared as has happened in 85 % of arrest cases.
SNHR calls for financial and psychological restitution for all victims and their families, as well as for an end to all arbitrary detention, and for the fate of thousands of individuals forcibly disappeared by Syrian Democratic Forces to be revealed. We note that these arrests are carried out with the objective of spreading fear and terror in the community and blackmailing the detainees’ families. We have additional, well-founded fears for the detainees’ wellbeing due to the spread of COVID-19.
