On Sunday, August 3, 2025, Haidar al-Saleh al-Jassim al-Arfi, a resident of the town of Darnaj, east of Deir Ez-Zour, was killed by bullets fired by a member of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) while he was standing in front of a bakery in the town. The area is under SDF control.
According to information obtained by the Syrian Network for Human Rights from reliable local sources, Haidar was standing in front of a bakery to buy bread when a member of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) checkpoint, stationed near the agricultural advisory unit in the town of Darnaj, opened fire indiscriminately, wounding Haidar and killing him instantly.
Legal Conclusions:
- The fact that members of the Syrian Democratic Forces opened fire on Haider al-Arafi, an unarmed civilian, while he was stopping to buy bread, without a direct threat to their lives, constitutes a grave violation of the right to life.
- The incident highlights the lack of disciplinary and accountability mechanisms within the forces controlling the area, particularly since no immediate judicial action was taken against the responsible personnel, perpetuating a culture of impunity.
Syrian Network for Human Rights Recommendations:
- Open an immediate and impartial investigation into the incident, under the supervision of an independent body. The investigation should include a review of open-fire orders, interrogation of personnel at the checkpoint, and determination of direct criminal responsibility.
- Bring those responsible for the shooting to fair accountability, including trial before a competent civilian court that guarantees the rights of the victim and the transparency of proceedings.
- Providing urgent and appropriate compensation to Abdullah al-Bakr’s family, including material, moral, and psychological support, in accordance with international standards for reparations.
- Retraining and rehabilitating Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) checkpoint personnel, in accordance with human rights standards and principles on the use of force, and activating internal military oversight over these sites.
- The transitional government in Damascus is responsible for protecting Syrian citizens throughout Syria, compensating them, and holding perpetrators of violations accountable.
