Ali Karim al Mahhan, a photographer and member of the media office at the civil council of the Syrian Democratic Forces in Soor town in Deir Ez-Zour governorate northern suburbs, was arrested by Syrian Democratic Forces personnel on August 23, 2022 after they summoned him to their main security headquarters near al Ma’amel region in Deir Ez-Zour governorate northern suburbs. He was taken to an undisclosed location.
SNHR notes that his phone was confiscated, and he hasn’t been allowed to contact any members of his family. We fear he might be subjected to 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 and their families, as well as for an end to all arbitrary detention and for the fate of thousands of individuals forcibly disappeared by the 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.
