On Sunday, July 12, 2025, members of the Syrian Democratic Forces arbitrarily arrested nine civilians, including two children, all from the town of Theyban in the eastern countryside of Deir Ez-Zour province, after raiding their homes in the town, which is under their control. At the time of writing, the location to which the detainees were taken remains unknown, as do the reasons for their arrest.
Sources confirmed that the arrests were made without a legal warrant or court order and without informing any of the detainees’ relatives of their whereabouts. Their phones were confiscated and they were prevented from communicating with their families. In addition, the forces vandalized the homes and seized money belonging to the families of the detainees. The Syrian Network for Human Rights fears that they will be subjected to torture and become victims of enforced disappearance.
Legal conclusions:
- This arrest without an official arrest warrant, without clear charges, and without referral to a competent judicial authority constitutes a violation of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits arbitrary arrest 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 lawyers representing them constitutes enforced disappearance, which is 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 order is a violation of the right to private property and is an arbitrary practice that violates the basic guarantees governing criminal proceedings.
- Carrying out arrests in a humiliating manner falls under the category of torture, which is prohibited at all times.
Recommendations of the Syrian Network for Human Rights:
- Immediately and unconditionally release the detainees 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 circumstances of his arrest, particularly the allegations of degrading treatment, and hold those responsible for the violations accountable.
- Enable 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.
