Two civilians from Kanaker village in southwestern Damascus suburbs governorate, 24-year-old Muhammad Yahya al Atrash and 30-year-old Ali Hejazi, were arrested by Syrian regime forces in al Abasyeen area in Damascus city on August 27, 2022, while on their way to cross the Syrian-Lebanese border via an illegal crossing point. They were taken to an undisclosed location.
SNHR notes that both civilians had agreed a security settlement previously.
The arrests weren’t carried out according to any court warrants, and none of the two men’s family members were informed of their detention, while their phones were confiscated, and they were prevented from contacting their families. We fear they may be subjected to torture and go on to be classified as 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 Syrian regime 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.
