On Sunday, May 18, 2025, unknown gunmen kidnapped brothers Amir, Samir, and Badie Shaaban Ibrahim, all from Homs, after raiding their workplace in the Al-Waer neighborhood of Homs.
According to what the Syrian Network for Human Rights obtained from local sources, an armed group kidnapped the three brothers, Amir, Samir, and Badie, after raiding their place of residence on one of the cow farms they own in the Al-Waer neighborhood. After a thorough search of their residence, they were taken to an unknown location. Neither the party responsible for their abduction nor the reasons behind the incident are known. Their family confirmed that they had lost contact with all of them since the incident, raising growing concerns about their fate. The area where the abduction occurred is under the control of the transitional government forces.
Legal Conclusions
- The abduction of the brothers Amir, Samir, and Badie by armed men and their taking to an unknown location without disclosing their whereabouts or fate, and without allowing their families to contact them, constitutes enforced disappearance, even if the party responsible is not clearly identified.
- The unlawful deprivation of liberty through abduction and the absence of judicial proceedings constitutes a violation of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention.
- Given the dangerous conditions of unlawful detention and the absence of any judicial oversight or safeguards, there is concern for the safety of the abductee, posing a direct threat to their right to life and physical and psychological integrity, guaranteed under Articles 6 and 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
- The continuation of abductions without identifying or prosecuting those responsible perpetuates a climate of impunity, threatening to increase the frequency of these violations.
- The transitional government bears the legal responsibility for protecting civilians and revealing the fate of the kidnapped person, even if it was not the party that carried out the kidnapping.
Recommendations by SNHR
- Launch an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the kidnapping incident, under the supervision of an independent body, and work to determine the whereabouts and fate of the victims, while taking all necessary measures to ensure their safety and return to their families.
- Publish the results of the investigation to the public, and clarify the steps taken by the authority controlling the area to uncover the circumstances of the incident and hold the perpetrators accountable. This will contribute to strengthening confidence in justice and the rule of law.
- Strengthening protection mechanisms in areas outside central control by monitoring armed groups, preventing any illegal activities, and activating local and international oversight.
- Providing psychological and legal support to the families of the abductees and appointing an official contact person to enable the family to follow up on their condition and receive updates on the progress of the investigation.
- Launching civil awareness campaigns to combat the culture of extrajudicial kidnapping, and encouraging families to report cases, while ensuring protection for survivors and witnesses.
