On Thursday, July 3, 2025, unknown gunmen kidnapped Lisa Muhammad Ibrahim, born in 2006, from the village of Ras al-Ayn in the countryside of Latakia Governorate, while she was on the outskirts of the village.
According to what the Syrian Network for Human Rights got from reliable local sources, an armed group of three people kidnapped Liza Ibrahim while she was near a religious shrine on the outskirts of the village. The kidnappers then assaulted her brother as he tried to prevent them from abducting her and took her to an unknown location. The identity of those responsible for her abduction and the reasons behind the incident remain unknown. Her family confirmed that they have lost contact with her since the incident, raising growing concerns about her fate.
It should be noted that the area where the abduction took place is under the control of transitional government forces. SNHR is still working to collect eyewitness accounts to verify the circumstances of the incident and document it fully.
Legal Conclusions
• The abduction of young Lisa by armed men and her transfer to an unknown location without disclosure of her whereabouts or fate, and without enabling her family to communicate with her, constitutes enforced disappearance, even if the responsible party is not explicitly known.
• The unlawful deprivation of liberty through abduction and the absence of judicial proceedings constitute 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 seriousness of the conditions of unlawful detention and the absence of any judicial oversight or safeguards, there are fears for the safety of the abductee, which constitutes 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 an environment of impunity, which threatens to increase the frequency of such violations.
• The transitional government bears legal responsibility for protecting civilians and revealing the fate of the abductee, even if it was not the party that carried out the abduction.
Recommendations by SNHR
• Open an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the kidnapping, under the supervision of an independent body, and work to locate the victim and determine her fate, taking all necessary measures to ensure her safety and return to her family.
• 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, thereby contributing to strengthening confidence in justice and the rule of law.
• Strengthen protection mechanisms in areas outside central control by monitoring armed groups, preventing any illegal activities, and activating local and international oversight.
• Provide psychological and legal support to the kidnapped girl’s family and appoint an official contact person to enable the family to follow up on her case and receive updates on the investigation.
• Launching civil awareness campaigns to combat the culture of illegal kidnapping and encourage people to report cases, while ensuring protection for survivors and witnesses.
