On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 48-year-old Samer Suleiman Hamdoush, a native of the village of Kawkab in Tartous, was shot dead by unknown gunmen near the village of Al-Bayda. The identity of the perpetrators remains unknown. The area is under the control of the transitional government.
According to what the Syrian Network for Human Rights documented through reliable local sources, Samer was shot while traveling on a motorcycle from his workplace in the town of Al-Bayda to his village of Kawkab, resulting in his injury and immediate death. According to sources, his body was found in a forested area near the village of Al-Basatin after his death. The network is still working to collect more eyewitness testimonies to fully verify and document the circumstances of the incident.
Legal Conclusions
- The killing of Samer Suleiman Hamdoush 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 indiscriminate shooting by an armed group outside official control in a civilian area on a vital road is an indication of the state’s failure to fulfill its obligations to protect civilians, contravening the principle of the “duty to protect” binding on de facto authorities under international law.
- If the perpetrators are not identified and prosecuted, this reinforces a pattern of impunity, undermines civilian confidence in justice, and creates a dangerous environment for the recurrence of such crimes.
Recommendations by SNHR
- 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 the protection of witnesses and the documentation of evidence.
- Hold the transitional government fully responsible for protecting public roads, including deploying security checkpoints, activating surveillance devices, 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 fair and public trials that guarantee the rights of victims and their families.
- Provide material and moral compensation to the families of the two victims and ensure that the injured receive medical care and psychological support, 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.
