On Sunday, May 4, 2025, Mrs. Wakila Mahmoud Darwish was killed, and her two daughters, 11-year-old Shahd Ahmad Sattam and 20-year-old Batoul Ahmad Sattam, were seriously wounded when their home was shot by two unknown gunmen in Wadi al-Thahab Neighborhood in Homs City. Batoul died the next day (May 5th) due to her wounds. As of this writing, the identity of the perpetrators remains unknown. The area is under the control of the transitional government.
According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights documentation through reliable local sources, the two gunmen entered the neighborhood on a motorcycle and opened fire on the family’s home, located opposite Jamil Sarhan School. The gunfire killed the mother instantly and injured her two daughters. Batoul died the next day due to a head injury.
Legal Conclusions
- The killing of Mrs. Wakila Darwish and her daughter Batoul Sattam by direct gunfire 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 the right to life is inherent in every human being and that no one may be arbitrarily deprived of it.
- The injury of the child, Shahd Sattam, as a result of random gunfire constitutes a violation of Article 9 of the same Covenant, which guarantees the security and physical integrity of individuals and imposes on the authorities the duty to prevent such attacks and hold their perpetrators accountable.
- The fact that the armed men are unidentified does not detract from the transitional government’s responsibility to maintain security. Rather, the failure to contain civil conflicts or the behavior of local armed groups constitutes a direct failure to enforce 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.
Recommendations by SNHR
- Launch 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.
- Hold the transitional government fully responsible for protecting public areas, including deploying security checkpoints, activating surveillance equipment, and tightening control over unofficial armed groups.
- Criminally 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.
