According to information obtained by the Syrian Network for Human Rights from local sources, the two gunmen entered the area on a motorcycle and opened fire on a group of civilians inside a car dealership near the Azaz garage. The shooting resulted in the deaths of three civilians and the injury of a fourth. The network is still collecting eyewitness accounts to verify the circumstances of the incident and fully document it.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights documented the names of the three victims:
- Khaled Al-Qassem, from the town of Akhtarin in the northern suburbs of Aleppo Governorate.
- Khalil Al-Jassem, from the town of Akhtarin in the northern suburbs of Aleppo Governorate.
- Kamal Al-Sheikh, from the town of Soran in the northern suburbs of Aleppo Governorate.
Legal Conclusions
- The killing of three civilians by direct fire by unknown gunmen, without any legal justification or engagement, constitutes an extrajudicial killing and constitutes a grave violation of Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which stipulates that the right to life is inherent in every human being and that no one may be arbitrarily deprived of it.
- The indiscriminate shooting by an armed group outside official control in a civilian area on a vital road is an indication of the state’s failure to fulfill its obligations to protect civilians, which contravenes the principle of the “duty to protect” binding on de facto authorities under international law.
- The fact that the gunmen are unknown does not detract from the transitional government’s responsibility to maintain security. Rather, the failure to contain civil conflicts or the behavior of local armed groups constitutes a direct failure to enforce the rule of law.
- If perpetrators are not identified and prosecuted, this reinforces the pattern of impunity, undermines civilian confidence in justice, and creates a dangerous environment for the recurrence of these crimes.
Recommendations by SNHR
- Launch an urgent, impartial, and transparent investigation, under the supervision of independent judicial authorities, to uncover the circumstances of the crime and identify the perpetrators, while ensuring witness protection and documenting evidence.
- Hold the transitional government fully responsible for protecting public areas, including deploying security checkpoints, activating surveillance equipment, and tightening control over unofficial armed groups.
- Criminally prosecute all those involved, including any parties or local groups involved in the shooting, and bring them to public and fair trials that guarantee the rights of victims and their families.
- Provide material and moral compensation to the victim’s family, as part of reparations in accordance with international standards.
- Launch a local awareness campaign on respect for the rule of law and the rejection of random weapons, with the participation of local community leaders, to combat irregular armament and tribal violence.
