On Friday, July 11, 2025, Walid al-Jubba, the mayor and former mayor of the town of Hafir al-Fawqa, east of Rif Dimashq Governorate, was shot dead by unknown gunmen in the town. The identity of the perpetrators remains unknown at the time of publication. The area is under the control of the transitional government.
According to what the Syrian Network for Human Rights documented from reliable local sources, Walid was shot while in front of his home, sustaining serious injuries that later resulted in his death. The network is still collecting eyewitness accounts to verify and fully document the circumstances of the incident.
Legal Conclusions:
- The killing of Walid al-Jabbah 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 were 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 a pattern of impunity, undermines civilian confidence in justice, and creates a dangerous environment for the recurrence of these crimes.
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 oversight of unofficial armed groups.
- Prosecute all those involved, including any parties or local groups involved in the shooting, and bring them to public and fair trials that protect the rights of victims and their families.
- Provide material and moral compensation to the families of the 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.
