On Wednesday, May 14, 2025, members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) arbitrarily arrested six civilians, all from the same family and residents of the town of al-Sour in the northern suburbs of Deir Ez-Zour Governorate, after raiding their homes in the town, which is under SDF’s control. At the time of writing, the destination of the detainees remains unknown, and the reasons behind their arrests as well.
The sources confirmed that the arrests were carried out without a legal warrant or court order, and without informing any of the detainees’ families of their whereabouts. Their phones were confiscated, preventing them from communicating with their families. SNHR fears that they may be subjected to torture and may be classified as forcibly disappeared.
Legal Conclusions
- This arrest, without an official arrest warrant, without clear charges or bringing him before a competent judicial authority, constitutes a violation of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits arbitrary arrest and requires that the detainee be informed of the reason for his arrest and be able to challenge it before the judiciary.
- Taking detainees to an unknown location and preventing them from communicating with their families or lawyers representing them is classified as enforced disappearance and is 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.
- Confiscating detainees’ phones without a legal warrant is a violation of the right to private property and represents an arbitrary practice that contravenes basic safeguards governing criminal procedure.
- Carrying out the arrest in a humiliating manner falls within the framework of torture, which is prohibited at all times.
Recommendations by SNHR
- 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.
- Open a transparent and independent investigation into the conditions of their detention, particularly into the allegations of degrading treatment, and hold those responsible accountable.
- Allow them to communicate with their families and lawyers representing them and ensure their physical and psychological safety during their detention, in accordance with international standards.
