On Sunday, October 5, 2025, Orwa Mustafa al-Khair, a young man from the city of Qardaha in the Latakia countryside, was shot dead by unknown gunmen near the village of al-Qubaisiya in the Qardaha countryside. It should be noted that the area is under the control of Syrian government forces.
According to information obtained by the Syrian Network for Human Rights from reliable local sources, unknown gunmen opened fire on Orwa while he was on a farm in the village of al-Qubaisiya, wounding him and killing him instantly.
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 it to us via our official email address: [email protected]
Legal Conclusions:
- The killing of Orwa Al-Khair 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 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:
- Open 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 Syrian government must protect public facilities and public areas, including by deploying security checkpoints, activating surveillance equipment, 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 public and fair trials that guarantee the rights of victims and their families.
- Provide material and moral compensation to the victim’s family, 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.
