Barzan Idris Farman, a 23-year-old reporter for the Kurdish-language Rudaw News channel, from al Qamshli city in northeast Hasaka governorate, was arrested by Syrian Democratic Forces personnel on August 2, 2022, in a raid on his workplace, the Rudaw channel’s office in al Qamshli city’s al Siyahi neighborhood, and taken to an undisclosed location.
SNHR notes that his family wasn’t informed of his arrest, and his phone was confiscated, while he hasn’t been allowed to contact any members of his family. We fear he may suffer torture and go on to become forcibly disappeared, as has happened with 85% of detainees.
SNHR calls for financial and psychological restitution for all victims, 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 their wellbeing due to the spread of COVID-19.
