On Friday, July 11, 2025, unknown gunmen kidnapped brothers Youssef and Zahir Ahmad al-Naam from their place of residence in the city. The brothers are from the village of Deir Mama in Misyaf area in the western countryside of Hama province and reside in Damascus.
According to information obtained by the Syrian Network for Human Rights from local sources, an armed group kidnapped the brothers Yusuf and Zahir while they were near their home in Al-Abbasiyin Square in Damascus. They were taken to an unknown location without any information about who was responsible for their abduction or the reasons behind the incident. Their family confirmed that they had lost contact with them since the incident, raising growing concerns about their fate. The area where the abduction took place is under the control of transitional government forces.
Legal conclusions:
- The abduction of the brothers Youssef and Zahir Ahmad al-Naam by armed men and their transfer to an unknown location without disclosure of their whereabouts or fate, and without enabling their family to communicate with them, constitutes enforced disappearance, even if the party responsible is not explicitly known.
- The unlawful deprivation of liberty through abduction and the absence of judicial proceedings constitute a violation of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention.
- Given the seriousness of the conditions of unlawful detention and the absence of any judicial oversight or safeguards, there are fears for the safety of the abductee, which constitutes a direct threat to his right to life and physical and psychological integrity, guaranteed under Articles 6 and 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
- The continuation of abductions without identifying or prosecuting those responsible perpetuates an environment of impunity, which threatens to increase the frequency of such violations.
- The transitional government bears legal responsibility for protecting civilians and revealing the fate of the abductee, even if it was not the party that carried out the abduction.
Recommendations of the Syrian Network for Human Rights:
- Open an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the kidnapping incident, under the supervision of an independent body, and work to determine the whereabouts and fate of the victims, taking all necessary measures to ensure their safety and return to their families.
- Publish the results of the investigation to the public and clarify the steps taken by the authority controlling the area to uncover the circumstances of the incident and hold the perpetrators accountable, thereby contributing to strengthening confidence in justice and the rule of law.
- Strengthen protection mechanisms in areas outside central control by monitoring armed groups, preventing any illegal movements, and activating local and international oversight.
- Provide psychological and legal support to the families of the abductees and appoint an official contact person to enable the families to follow up on their cases and receive updates on the progress of the investigation.
- Launching civil awareness campaigns to combat the culture of unlawful abduction and encourage people to report cases, while ensuring protection for survivors and witnesses.
