On Monday, October 20, 2025, members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) arbitrarily arrested civilians Yasser Alawi al-Abdullah and Ayman Moataz al-Hussein, both residents of the village of Abu al-Nitel, north of Deir ez-Zor Governorate. The arrests were carried out following a raid and arrest campaign in the village, which is under the control of these forces. At the time of writing this report, the destination of the two men remains unknown, and the reasons behind their arrests are unknown.
According to information we obtained from reliable local sources, the raid was carried out without any legal justification. During the arrests, the raiding forces stole sums of money and caused significant damage to the contents of the raided homes.
Sources confirmed that the arrests were carried out without a legal warrant or judicial order, and without informing any of their relatives of their whereabouts. Their phones were confiscated, and they were prevented from communicating with their families. The Syrian Network for Human Rights fears that they 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 them 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 detainees’ being taken to an unknown location and denied access to their families or legal representatives 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 detainees’ phones 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 detainees constitutes torture, which is prohibited at all times.
SNHR’s Recommendations:
- Immediately and unconditionally release the detainees in this incident, or bring them before a civilian court that meets the conditions for a fair trial, if there are genuine legal charges against them.
- Initiate a transparent and independent investigation into the conditions of their detention, particularly into the allegations of degrading treatment, and hold those responsible for violations accountable.
- Enable them to communicate with their families and lawyers, and ensure their physical and psychological safety during their detention, in accordance with international standards.
