Hamza al Sayyed, from Theyban town in Deir Ez-Zour governorate eastern suburbs, was arrested by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) personnel on September 5, 2022, while passing through a checkpoint in Theyban town, and taken to an undisclosed location.
SNHR notes that Hamza’s family weren’t informed of his arrest, with the SDF personnel confiscating nis phone and refusing to allow him to contact any lawyer or member of his family. We fear he may be subjected to torture and go on to be forcibly disappeared, as has happened with 85% of SDF detainees.
SNHR calls for financial and psychological restitution for all SDF victims and their families, as well as for an end to all arbitrary detentions and demands that the fate of thousands of individuals forcibly disappeared by the SDF 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.
