On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, unknown armed men abducted Hamza al-Amareen, head of the Syrian Civil Defense Organization (White Helmets) center in Suwayda Governorate, while he was working in the city of Suwayda.
According to what SNHR obtained from reliable local sources, at 4:30 p.m., an armed group abducted Hamza al-Amareen in the Al-Omran roundabout area in the city of Suwayda after intercepting his Hyundai Staria van, which bears the White Helmets logo, while he was on his way to carry out an emergency evacuation mission for one of the United Nations teams inside the city, and took him to an unknown location.
The following day at 10:00 a.m., the Syrian Civil Defense confirmed that it had managed to contact Hamza al-Amareen’s phone, which was answered by an unknown person who confirmed that he was safe and well. The call was then cut off, without any information about who was responsible for the kidnapping or the reasons behind it, raising growing concerns about his fate.
It should be noted that the area where the abduction took place is controlled by local armed factions outside the state’s control. The network is still working to collect eyewitness accounts to verify the circumstances of the incident and document it in full.
Legal conclusions:
The abduction of Hamza al-Amareen by armed men and his transfer to an unknown location without disclosure of his whereabouts or fate, and without enabling his family to communicate with him, 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 his 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.
Recommendations of the Syrian Network for Human Rights:
Open an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the kidnapping incident, under the supervision of an independent body, and work to locate the victim and determine his fate, while taking all necessary measures to ensure his safety and return to his 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, which will contribute 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 family of the abductee and appoint an official contact person to enable the family to follow up on his case and receive updates on the investigation.
Launching civil awareness campaigns to combat the culture of unlawful kidnapping and encourage people to report cases, while ensuring protection for survivors and witnesses.
