On Thursday, August 21, 2025, Amjad Omar Daras, a native of Jisr al-Shughur in the western countryside of Idlib Governorate, was killed after being shot by unknown gunmen riding a motorcycle in the northern neighborhood of Jisr al-Shughur. He was a member of the 50th Division of the Ministry of Defense of the Syrian Transitional Government. The area is under the control of the transitional government.
The targeted killing constitutes an extrajudicial killing, carried out without legal process, and constitutes a violation of international human rights law. Since he was not directly participating in hostilities at the time of the incident, he is considered a civilian and is entitled to protection under international law.
We are continuing our investigations, including reviewing and gathering more evidence and information. We therefore hope that anyone with information or details related to this incident will provide it to us via our official email. [email protected]
Legal Conclusions:
- The killing of Amjad Daras by direct fire by unknown gunmen, without any legal justification or engagement, constitutes an extrajudicial killing and constitutes a grave violation of Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which stipulates that every human being has the inherent right to life and that no one may be arbitrarily deprived of it.
- The indiscriminate shooting by an armed group outside official control in a civilian area within a vital market constitutes a failure to fulfill the state’s obligations to protect civilians and security personnel outside of combat and security operations. This violates the principle of the “duty to protect” binding on de facto authorities under international law.
- The fact that the gunmen were unidentified 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 reinforces a pattern of impunity, undermines civilian confidence in the justice system, and creates a dangerous environment for the recurrence of these crimes.
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 perpetrators, while ensuring witness protection and documenting evidence.
- The transitional government must protect public facilities and public areas, including by deploying security checkpoints, activating surveillance equipment, and tightening oversight of unofficial armed groups.
- Prosecute all those involved, including any parties or local groups involved in the shooting, and bring them to public and fair trials that guarantee the rights of victims and their families.
- Provide material and moral compensation to the families of the two victims, as part of reparations in accordance with international standards.
- Launch a local awareness campaign on respect for the rule of law and the rejection of random weapons, with the participation of local community leaders, to combat irregular armament and tribal violence.
