On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, civilian Jassem Mohammed Hijel, born in 1980 in the Aziziyah neighborhood of Hasaka city, was arbitrarily arrested by members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the city of Hasaka, which is under their control. According to information we obtained from reliable local sources, the forces raided Jassem’s home in the Aziziyah neighborhood in the early morning hours and, after arresting him, took him to an unknown location. The arrest was based on his support for Arab tribes on his personal Facebook page. 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 warrant, clear charges, or bringing the detainee before a competent judicial authority, constitutes a violation of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits arbitrary detention and requires that the detainee 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 them from communicating with their families or a lawyer 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 the detainee’s phone 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 the detainee 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 their detention, particularly into allegations of degrading treatment, and hold those responsible for violations accountable.
- Allow them to communicate with their families and lawyers and ensure their physical and psychological safety during their detention, in accordance with international standards.
