At dawn on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 77-year-old civilian Arak Jaiz Nuwaidis al-Mehammed, from the village of al-Dardara in the countryside of Hasaka Governorate, was arbitrarily arrested by members of the Syrian Democratic Forces in the village of al-Dardara, which is under their control.
According to information SNHR obtained from reliable local sources, the elements raided Arak’s house in the village in the early morning hours, with the aim of arresting his son, “Muhammad,” who was wanted by the forces. After confirming that he was not inside the house, they arrested his father, “Arak,” to pressure his son to surrender to them, and took him to an unknown location. The sources also confirmed that the arrest/detention operation was carried out without an arrest warrant issued by an official body and was carried out in a humiliating manner. The Syrian Democratic Forces elements also destroyed the furniture in the house during the raid.
Legal Conclusions
- This arrest, without a formal warrant, clear charges, or bringing the detainee before a competent judicial authority, constitutes a violation of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits arbitrary detention and requires that the detainee be informed of the reasons for their arrest and be able to challenge it before a court.
- Taking the detainee to an unknown location and preventing them from communicating with their families or a lawyer constitutes enforced disappearance, 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 a detainee’s phone without a warrant violates the right to private property and constitutes an arbitrary practice that contravenes fundamental safeguards governing criminal procedure.
- Carrying out the arrest in a degrading manner constitutes torture, which is prohibited at all times.
Recommendations by SNHR
- Immediately and unconditionally release the detainee in this incident or bring him before a civilian court that meets the conditions for a fair trial, if there are genuine legal charges against him.
- Open a transparent and independent investigation into the circumstances of his detention, particularly into the allegations of degrading treatment, and hold those responsible for the violations accountable.
- Enabling them to communicate with their families and lawyers representing them and ensuring their physical and psychological safety during their detention, in accordance with international standards.
