Political Security forces of the Syrian National Army arrested five civilians after raiding their home in al Basouta village of Afrin city in northern Aleppo governorate on August 24, 2022. There were taken to the Political Security Headquarters in Afrin city.
SNHR notes that their phones were confiscated, and they were denied contact with their families. We fear they might suffer torture, and become forcibly disappeared as has happened to 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 National Army 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.
