On Thursday, August 21, 2025, three civilians—brothers Qusay and Barakat Barakat, as well as Bashar Muhammad Mashal—were killed. Rabie and Ahmad Muhammad Mashal, all residents of the village of Birin in the southern Hama countryside, were injured when unknown gunmen opened fire on the main road on the outskirts of the village of Talisiya, which connects the villages of Birin and al-Maw’ah. The area is under the control of the transitional government.
According to information obtained by the Syrian Network for Human Rights from local sources, unidentified gunmen targeted a group of civilians with direct gunfire as they were returning from work, killing three of them and wounding two others. The gunmen also stole the victims’ personal belongings before transporting the bodies to the Kafr Bahm Medical Center.
We are continuing our investigations, including reviewing and collecting more evidence and information. Therefore, we hope that anyone with information or details related to this incident will provide us with it via our official email address: [email protected]
Legal Conclusions:
- The killing of Qusai and Barakat Barakat, and Bashar Mashaal, and the injury of others, constitute a flagrant violation of the right to life, as stipulated in Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The state has a legal obligation to conduct a prompt and effective investigation, ensure accountability for those responsible, and prevent impunity.
- The indiscriminate firing by an armed group outside official control in a vital civilian area constitutes a failure to fulfill the state’s obligations to protect civilians, violating the principle of the “duty to protect” binding on de facto authorities under international law.
- The fact that the gunman is unknown does not diminish the transitional government’s responsibility to maintain security. The inability to contain civil conflicts or the behavior of local armed groups impacts the enforcement of the rule of law.
- If the perpetrators are not identified and prosecuted, this will reinforce the pattern of impunity, undermine civilian confidence in justice, and create a dangerous environment for the recurrence of these crimes.
- The continued presence of weapons in the hands of non-state actors increases the likelihood of security chaos and the commission of serious violations. This poses a direct challenge to the transitional government in its efforts to enforce the rule of law and achieve security.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights’ recommendations:
- Initiate an urgent, impartial, and transparent investigation under the supervision of independent judicial authorities to uncover the circumstances of the crime and identify the perpetrator, while ensuring the protection of witnesses and the documentation of evidence.
- The transitional government must protect vital areas, including by deploying security checkpoints, activating surveillance systems, and tightening control over unofficial armed groups.
- Criminal prosecution of all those involved, including any parties or local groups involved in the shooting, must be carried out, and they must be brought to fair and public trials that guarantee the rights of victims and their families.
- Providing financial and moral compensation to the families of the victims, and ensuring that injured civilians receive medical care and psychological support, as part of reparations in accordance with international standards.
- Launching a local awareness campaign on respect for the rule of law and the rejection of indiscriminate weapons, with the participation of local community leaders, to combat irregular armament and tribal violence.
