Two civilians, Rafeh Melhem and his son Amjad, were killed and a girl was injured by gunfire from unknown gunmen in the Al-Nazihin neighborhood in Homs on June 8, 2025.
According to what the Syrian Network for Human Rights documented from reliable local sources, gunmen riding a motorcycle entered the neighborhood and opened fire on Rafeh, his son, and the child while they were on a public street, resulting in the death of Rafeh and his son and the injury of the child. The network is still collecting eyewitness accounts to verify the circumstances of the incident and fully document it.
Legal Conclusions
- The killing of Rafeh Melhem and his son Majd by direct gunfire 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 every human being has the inherent right to life and that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of it.
- The injury of the child Tia Melhem as a result of indiscriminate gunfire constitutes a violation of Article 9 of the same Covenant, which guarantees the security and physical integrity of individuals and imposes on the authorities the duty to prevent such attacks and hold perpetrators accountable.
- The indiscriminate firing by an armed group outside official control in a vital civilian area constitutes a failure to fulfill the state’s obligations to protect civilians, contravening the principle of the “duty to protect” binding on de facto authorities under international law.
- The fact that the gunmen are unknown does not diminish the transitional government’s responsibility to maintain security. The inability to contain civil conflicts or the behavior of local armed groups impacts the enforcement of 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
- 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 witness protection and documenting evidence.
- The transitional government must protect vital areas, including by deploying security checkpoints, activating surveillance equipment, and tightening control over unofficial armed groups.
- 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.
- Providing financial and moral compensation to the families of the two victims and ensuring that the injured girl receives medical care and psychological support, as part of reparations in accordance with international standards.
- Launching 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.
