On Saturday, July 19, 2025, Ibrahim Abdul Qadir Hamidi, a civilian from the village of Mazraat Madar in the eastern countryside of Raqqa province, was arbitrarily arrested by members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the village of Mazraat Madar, which is under their control.
According to information we obtained from reliable local sources, the forces arrested Ibrahim as he was passing through one of their checkpoints at the entrance to the village for possessing pictures of the flag of the Syrian Arab Republic. After his arrest, they took him to an unknown location. The sources also confirmed that the arrest/detention was carried out without an arrest warrant issued by an official authority and was carried out in a humiliating manner.
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 the detainee to an unknown location and preventing him from communicating with his family or lawyer 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 the detainee’s phone 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 the arrest 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 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 arrest, especially 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.
