On Saturday, July 5, 2025, members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) arbitrarily arrested brothers Ahmed, Louay, Hussein, and Bassam Ali al-Ahmad, all from Raqqa, after raiding their homes in the al-Mashlab neighborhood, east of Raqqa city, which is under their control. At the time of writing, the location to which the detainees were taken remains unknown.
According to information we obtained from reliable local sources, the forces raided Bassam’s home in the city and arrested him and his brothers. The arrests stemmed from his criticism of the Syrian Democratic Forces’ policies on his personal Facebook page. After their arrest, they were taken to an unknown location.
The sources confirmed that the arrests were carried out without a legal warrant or court order, and without informing the detainees’ families of their whereabouts. Their phones were confiscated, preventing them from communicating with their families. The Syrian Network for Human Rights fears that they may be subjected to torture and may be classified as forcibly disappeared.
Legal Conclusions:
- This arrest without an official warrant constitutes a violation of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits arbitrary detention and requires that detainees be informed of the reasons for their arrest and be able to challenge it before a court.
- Taking detainees to an unknown location and preventing them from communicating with their families or legal representatives 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 detainees’ phones without a legal warrant violates the right to private property and constitutes an arbitrary practice that contravenes fundamental guarantees governing criminal proceedings.
- Carrying out the arrest in a degrading manner constitutes torture, which is prohibited at all times.
SNHR’s Recommendations:
- Immediately and unconditionally release those detained in this incident, or bring them before a civilian court that meets the conditions for a fair trial, if there are genuine legal charges against them.
- Open a transparent and independent investigation into the conditions of their detention, particularly into allegations of degrading treatment, and hold those responsible for violations accountable.
- Allow them to communicate with their families and lawyers representing them, and ensure their physical and psychological safety during their detention, in accordance with international standards.
