On Monday, August 11, 2025, unknown gunmen kidnapped civilian Osama Ghabbash and his young son Maher, a goldsmith from Damascus, in the Kafr Sousa neighborhood of Damascus.
According to information obtained by the Syrian Network for Human Rights from local sources, an armed group driving an H1 van intercepted Osama while he was driving with his son Maher in the Kafr Sousa neighborhood. The group abducted them and took them to an unknown location. The perpetrators and the reasons behind the abduction remain unknown. Their family confirmed that they had lost contact with them since the incident, raising growing concerns about their fate. The area where the abduction occurred is under the control of the transitional government forces.
We are continuing our investigations, including reviewing and gathering more evidence and information. Therefore, we hope that anyone with information or details related to this incident will provide them to us via our official email address: [email protected]
Legal Conclusions:
- The abduction of civilian Osama Ghobash and his young son Maher by armed men, who took them to an unknown location without disclosing their whereabouts or fate, and without allowing their family to contact them, constitutes enforced disappearance, even if the party responsible is not clearly identified.
- The unlawful deprivation of liberty through abduction and the absence of judicial proceedings violates 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 is concern 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 continued occurrence of abductions without identifying or prosecuting those responsible perpetuates a climate of impunity, threatening to increase the incidence of these violations.
- The transitional government bears the legal responsibility to protect civilians and reveal the fate of the abducted person, even if it is not the party that carried out the abduction.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights’ recommendations:
- Open an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the kidnapping incident, under the supervision of an independent body, and work to determine the whereabouts and fate of the two victims, while taking all necessary measures to ensure their safety and return to their families.
- Publishing the results of the investigation to the public and clarifying the steps taken by the authority controlling the area to uncover the circumstances of the incident and hold the perpetrators accountable will contribute to strengthening confidence in justice and the rule of law.
- Strengthening protection mechanisms in areas outside central control by monitoring armed groups, preventing any illegal activities, and activating local and international oversight.
- Providing psychological and legal support to the families of the kidnapped individuals, and appointing an official contact person to enable the family to follow up on their case and receive updates on the progress of the investigation.
- Launching civil awareness campaigns to combat the culture of extrajudicial kidnapping, encouraging families to report cases, and ensuring protection for survivors and witnesses.
