On Saturday, September 20, 2025, Ahmed Manaa Al-Hajji, a member of the Syrian government’s Internal Security Forces and a native of the town of Isqat in the northern Idlib countryside, was killed when unknown gunmen targeted a security patrol in the vicinity of the Tal al-Shor area in the southwestern Homs countryside. It should be noted that the area is under Syrian government control.
According to information obtained by the Syrian Network for Human Rights from reliable local sources, unknown gunmen opened fire on the patrol, killing Ahmed Al-Hajji instantly and wounding two other members. The unknown gunmen were pursued, two of them were arrested, and they were referred for investigation.
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: [email protected]
Legal Conclusions:
- The killing of Ahmed Al-Hajji 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 constitutes a violation of the principle of “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 affects the enforcement of the rule of law.
- If perpetrators are not identified and prosecuted, this reinforces the pattern of impunity, undermines civilian confidence in justice, and creates a dangerous environment for the recurrence of these crimes.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights’ recommendations:
- Initiate a prompt, impartial, and transparent investigation, under the supervision of independent judicial authorities, to uncover the circumstances of the crime and identify the perpetrators, while ensuring the protection of witnesses and the documentation of evidence.
- The Syrian government must protect public facilities and public areas, including by deploying security checkpoints, activating surveillance devices, and tightening control over unofficial armed groups.
- Prosecute all those involved, including any parties or local groups involved in the shooting, and bring them to fair and public trials that guarantee the rights of victims and their families.
- Provide material and moral compensation to the families of the 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.
