At dawn on Friday, May 16, 2025, members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) arbitrarily arrested four civilians, including three members of one family. All were residents of the town of Theiban in the eastern suburbs of Deir Ez-Zour Governorate, after raiding their homes in the town, which is under their control at the time of writing. The location to which the detainees were taken remains unknown, and the reasons behind their arrests remain unclear.
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. The security forces also seized money, gold jewelry, and mobile phones belonging to the detainees’ families. The Syrian Network for Human Rights fears that they may be subjected to torture and may be classified as forcibly disappeared.
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 his arrest and be able to challenge it before a court.
- Taking detainees to an unknown location and preventing them from communicating with their families or lawyers constitutes enforced disappearance, which 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 warrant is a violation of the right to private property and constitutes an arbitrary practice that contravenes fundamental safeguards governing criminal procedure.
- Carrying out the arrest in a degrading manner falls within the framework of torture, which is prohibited at all times.
Recommendations by SNHR
- The immediate and unconditional release of those arrested in this incident, or their referral to a civilian court that meets the conditions for a fair trial, if there are genuine legal charges against them.
- Launch a transparent and independent investigation into the conditions of his detention, particularly into allegations of degrading treatment, and hold those responsible for violations accountable.
- Enabling them to communicate with their families and lawyers representing them and ensuring their physical and psychological safety during their detention, in accordance with international standards.
