On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, Ali Muhammad al-Moussa, 29, from the village of Shin in the western countryside of Homs Governorate, was killed by unknown gunmen on the outskirts of the village of Jabalaya in the Homs countryside. It should be noted that the area is under the control of the transitional government.
According to what the Syrian Network for Human Rights documented from reliable local sources, gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire on Ali while he was at the Jabalaya village intersection, resulting in his death from gunshot wounds. The network is still collecting eyewitness accounts to verify the circumstances of the incident and fully document it.
Legal Conclusions:
- The killing of Ali Musa by direct fire 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 every human being has the inherent right to life and that no one may be arbitrarily deprived of it.
- The indiscriminate shooting by an armed group outside official control in a vital civilian area constitutes a failure to fulfill the state’s obligations to protect civilians, contravening the principle of the “duty to protect” binding on de facto authorities under international law.
- The fact that the gunmen are unknown does not diminish the transitional government’s responsibility to maintain security. The inability to contain civil conflicts or the behavior of local armed groups impacts the enforcement of the rule of law.
- If the perpetrators are not identified and prosecuted, this reinforces the pattern of impunity and undermines civilian confidence.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights’ recommendations:
- 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 witness protection and documenting evidence.
- The transitional government must protect vital areas, including by 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 fair and public trials that guarantee the rights of victims and their families.
- Providing material and moral compensation to the victim’s family, as well as psychological support, within the framework of reparations in accordance with international standards.
- Launching 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.
