On Monday, May 12, 2025, members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) arbitrarily arrested civilians Jumaa Shukri and Mohamad Rasho, both from the town of Sarrin, south of the city of Ayn al-Arab (Kobani) in the eastern suburbs of Aleppo Governorate. The arrests were made after a raid on their homes in the town, which is under SDF control. At the time of writing, the location to which they were taken remains unknown, and the reasons behind their arrests are unknown.
According to information SNHR obtained from reliable local sources, the raid was carried out without any legal justification, and the arrests included physical assault, resulting in minor bruises and wounds.
The sources confirmed that the arrests were carried out without a warrant or court order, and without informing any of their relatives of their whereabouts. Their phones were confiscated, preventing them from communicating with their families. SNHR fears that they may be subjected to torture and may be classified as forcibly disappeared.
Legal Conclusions
- This arrest, without an official arrest warrant, without clear charges or bringing him before a competent judicial authority, constitutes a violation of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits arbitrary arrest and requires that the detainee be informed of the reason for his arrest and be able to challenge it before the judiciary.
- Taking detainees to an unknown location and preventing them from communicating with their families or lawyers representing them is classified as enforced disappearance and is prohibited under the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which affirms the right to know the whereabouts of detainees and to protect them from ill-treatment.
- Confiscating detainees’ phones without a legal warrant is a violation of the right to private property and represents an arbitrary practice that contravenes basic safeguards governing criminal procedure.
- Carrying out the arrest in a humiliating manner falls within the framework of torture, which is prohibited at all times.
Recommendations by SNHR
- Immediately and unconditionally release the detainees in this incident or bring them before a civilian court that meets the conditions for a fair trial, if there are genuine legal charges against them.
- Open a transparent and independent investigation into the conditions of their detention, particularly into the allegations of degrading treatment, and hold those responsible accountable.
- Allow them to communicate with their families and lawyers representing them and ensure their physical and psychological safety during their detention, in accordance with international standards.
