On Monday, September 1, 2025, civilian Ahmed Abdulrahman Al-Saleh, from the village of Al-Safsafa Tahtani, west of Raqqa Governorate, was arbitrarily arrested by members of the Syrian Democratic Forces in the village of Al-Safsafa Tahtani, which is under their control.
According to information we obtained from reliable local sources, security forces arrested Ahmed in the village and, after his arrest, took him to an unknown location. The sources also confirmed that the arrest/detention was carried out without an arrest warrant issued by an official body and was carried out in a humiliating manner. The Syrian Network for Human Rights fears that he may be subjected to torture and may be forcibly disappeared.
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 it to us via our official email address: [email protected]
Legal Conclusions:
- This arrest, without a formal warrant, clear charges, or bringing the detainee before a competent judicial authority, constitutes a violation of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits arbitrary detention and requires that the detainee be informed of the reasons for their arrest and be able to challenge it before a court.
- The detainee being taken to an unknown location and denied contact with their family or a lawyer constitutes enforced disappearance, prohibited under the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which affirms the right to know the whereabouts of detainees and to protect them from ill-treatment.
- The confiscation of the detainee’s phone without a legal warrant violates the right to private property and constitutes an arbitrary practice that contravenes fundamental safeguards governing criminal proceedings.
- The degrading treatment of the detainee constitutes torture, which is prohibited at all times.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights’ recommendations:
- Immediately and unconditionally release the detainee in this incident, or bring him before a civilian court that meets the conditions for a fair trial, if there are genuine legal charges against him.
- Initiate a transparent and independent investigation into the conditions of his detention, particularly into the allegations of degrading treatment, and hold those responsible for the violations accountable.
- Enable him to communicate with his family and a lawyer to represent him, and ensure his physical and psychological safety during his detention, in accordance with international standards.
