On Friday, August 15, 2025, Julia Mahmoud Idris was killed, and her two brothers, Suleiman (15 years old) and Ali (12 years old), were injured. They were from the village of Talsarin, in the countryside of Talkalakh city in the western countryside of Homs Governorate. Unknown gunmen opened fire on their home in the village, wounding the two children and killing Julia instantly. Internal Security Forces arrived at the scene and began investigating the incident. As of publication, the identity of the perpetrators remains unknown. The area is under the control of the transitional government.
We are continuing our investigations, including reviewing and gathering more evidence and information. Therefore, we hope that anyone with information or details related to this incident will provide them to us via our official email address: [email protected]
Legal Conclusions:
- The killing of Julia Idris and the injury of her two brothers constitute a flagrant violation of the right to life, as stipulated in Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The state has a legal obligation to conduct a prompt and effective investigation, ensure that those responsible are held accountable, and prevent impunity.
- The indiscriminate firing by an armed group outside official control in a vital civilian area constitutes a failure to fulfill the state’s obligations to protect civilians, violating the principle of the “duty to protect” binding on de facto authorities under international law.
- The fact that the gunman is 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 will reinforce the pattern of impunity, undermine civilian confidence in justice, and create a dangerous environment for the recurrence of these crimes.
- The continued presence of weapons in the hands of non-state actors increases the likelihood of security chaos and the commission of serious violations. This poses a direct challenge to the transitional government in its efforts to enforce the rule of law and achieve security.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights’ recommendations:
- Initiate an urgent, impartial, and transparent investigation under the supervision of independent judicial authorities to uncover the circumstances of the crime and identify the perpetrator, while ensuring the protection of witnesses and the documentation of evidence.
- The transitional government must protect vital areas, including by deploying security checkpoints, activating surveillance systems, and tightening control over unofficial armed groups.
- Criminal prosecution of all those involved, including any parties or local groups involved in the shooting, must be carried out, and they must be brought to fair and public trials that guarantee the rights of victims and their families.
- Providing material and moral compensation to the victim’s family, and ensuring that injured civilians receive medical care and psychological support, as part 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.
