On Friday, August 8, 2025, the body of 8-year-old Israa Atallah Al-Awad Al-Karta was found, bearing signs of severe torture and burning, in the town of Mahkan in the eastern Deir ez-Zor countryside, which is under the control of the transitional government.
According to information obtained by the Syrian Network for Human Rights from reliable local sources, the child, Israa, went missing earlier that day. Her body was later found bearing signs of torture. Her eyes had been gouged out before her body was burned and dumped in the town. The Syrian Network for Human Rights continues to investigate the circumstances of the incident and gather more information. As of press time, the identity of the party responsible for the crime has not been confirmed.
Legal Conclusions:
- The discovery of the body of the child Israa, bearing signs of severe torture and burning, indicates the possibility of her being subjected to extrajudicial execution. This constitutes a flagrant violation of Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees the right to life.
- The disappearance of the victim, followed by her being found murdered, constitutes a form of enforced disappearance, prohibited under the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
- Since the area is under the control of the transitional government, the occurrence of this crime within its jurisdiction without preventive measures constitutes a failure to fulfill the state’s duty to protect the right to life and personal security. This violates the principle of the “duty to protect,” which obliges authorities to prevent violations in areas under their control.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights’ recommendations:
- Open an urgent, impartial, and transparent criminal investigation to identify those responsible for the killing of the child Israa Al-Karta, with the involvement of independent forensic experts, and publish the results of the investigation to the public.
- The transitional government will assume its security responsibilities by activating monitoring and response mechanisms to protect civilians in rural areas and intensifying patrols in areas with civilian activity.
- Providing urgent compensation to the families of the victims, including material and moral support, as well as psychological and social support for their families, as they are victims of extrajudicial killing.
