On Friday, May 30, 2025, Ahmad al-Rayhan Ghannaj, a resident of the al-Aliyyat neighborhood in Hama city, was shot dead by unknown gunmen on the Ma’arshahur road in the Hama countryside. The identity of the perpetrators remains unknown at the time of publication. The area is under the control of the transitional government.
According to information obtained by the Syrian Network for Human Rights from reliable local sources, Muhammad was shot while driving on the Ma’arshahur road, killing him instantly. His body was thrown on the road and his car and personal belongings were stolen. The network is still collecting eyewitness testimonies to verify the circumstances of the incident and fully document it.
Legal Conclusions
- The killing of Ahmad Ghanaj by direct fire from armed individuals, 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 every human being has the inherent right to life and that no one may be arbitrarily deprived of it.
- The indiscriminate firing by an armed group outside official control in a civilian area is an indication of the state’s inability to fulfill its obligations to protect civilians, which contravenes the principle of the “duty to protect” binding on de facto authorities under international law.
- The fact that the gunmen are unknown 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 the 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
- 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 facilities and civilian areas, 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 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.
