On Thursday, May 29, 2025, Ismail Al-Bouafif and his 11-year-old son, Afif, both from the village of Al-Awsajli in the Manbij countryside of eastern Aleppo Governorate, were shot dead by unknown gunmen in Al-Arima Ditrict. The identity of the perpetrators remains unknown at the time of publication. The area is under the control of the transitional government.
According to information obtained by SNHR from reliable local sources, two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on Ismail and his son while they were in the al-Arima District, wounding them and killing them instantly. The network is continuing to collect eyewitness accounts to verify the circumstances of the incident and fully document it.
Legal Conclusions
- The killing of Ismail Al-Bouafif and his 11-year-old son Afif by direct gunfire by armed men, 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 to every human being and that no one may be arbitrarily deprived of it.
- Indiscriminate shooting by an armed group not subject to official control, in a civilian area, is an indication of the state’s inability to fulfill its obligations to protect the civilian population, which is in violation of 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 the 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
- Open 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 the protection of witnesses and the documentation of evidence.
- Hold the transitional government fully responsible for protecting public facilities and civilian areas, including deploying security checkpoints, activating surveillance devices, 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 fair and public 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.
