On Friday, May 30, 2025, Muhammad Mihoub Asaad and Ayman Abdul Hamid Sheikh Ali, aged 51 and 46 respectively, from the village of Al-Ramilah in the Jableh countryside of Latakia Governorate, were shot dead by unknown gunmen while they were on the outskirts of the village. 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 the Syrian Network for Human Rights from reliable local sources, the bodies of the two victims were found burned in a house near the Military Naval College, affiliated with the Ministry of Defense of the transitional government, located near the village of Al-Rmaila. Following the incident, Internal Security Forces arrived at the site and opened an investigation. The network is still collecting eyewitness testimonies to verify and fully document the circumstances of the incident.
Legal Conclusions
- The killing of Mohammed Asaad and Ayman Sheikh Ali by direct fire from armed individuals, 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 every human being has the inherent right to life and that no one may be arbitrarily deprived of it.
- The indiscriminate shooting by an armed group outside official control in a civilian area 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 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 families of the two victims, 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.
