A man, identified as Mohammad Saeed al-Khadija, was shot dead on August 14, 2023, by Syrian regime forces during a raid on his house in a northern neighborhood of his home city of Ma’aret al-Nu’man in southern rural Idlib governorate. The raid came after Mohammad voiced criticism of the poor services provided by the regime and its mistreatment of residents who returned to their homes. In retaliation for his speaking out, regime forces raided his home, and beat him using bayonets, before shooting him dead.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) notes that Mohammad previously left the city following the regime offensive on January 29, 2023, and travelled between northern rural Aleppo and Hama city.
He returned to Ma’aret al-Nu’man city six months ago, when the regime issued announcements claiming that the city was safe for the return of civilians.
It should be also noted that regime security forces prevented Mohammad’s family from burying him until after they signed a document claiming falsely that he died as the result of a heart attack.
The area is under the control of Syrian regime forces. SNHR notes that through this act of killing and other similar acts, regime forces have violated international human rights law. The perpetrators must be held accountable.
