On Saturday, August 30, 2025, activist Abdullah Omar Darbouk, who works with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Displacement Tracking (DTM) team, was arbitrarily arrested by members of the Syrian Democratic Forces in Raqqa City, which is under their control.
According to information we obtained from reliable local sources, security forces raided Abdullah’s home in the city on Saturday evening, arrested him, and took him to an unknown location. The sources also confirmed that the arrest/detention was carried out without an arrest warrant issued by an official authority and was carried out in a humiliating manner.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights notes that his phone was confiscated and he was prevented from communicating with his family. We fear that he may be subjected to torture and may be forcibly disappeared.
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 it to us via our official email address: [email protected]
Legal Conclusions:
- The arrest of activist Abdullah Omar Darbouk without an official warrant, without clear charges or bringing him before a competent judicial authority constitutes a violation of Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which prohibits arbitrary detention and requires that the detainee be informed of the reasons for his arrest and be able to challenge it before a court.
- The fact that the detainee was taken to an unknown location and prevented from communicating with his family or a lawyer constitutes enforced disappearance, prohibited under the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which affirms the right to know the whereabouts of detainees and to protect them from ill-treatment.
- Carrying out the arrest in a degrading manner falls within the framework of torture, which is prohibited at all times.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights’ recommendations:
- Immediately and unconditionally release activist Abdullah Omar Darbouk, or bring him before a civilian court that meets the conditions for a fair trial, if there are genuine legal charges against him.
- Initiate a transparent and independent investigation into the conditions of his detention, particularly into allegations of degrading treatment, and hold those responsible for violations accountable.
- Enable him to communicate with his family and a lawyer to represent him, and ensure his physical and psychological safety during his detention, in accordance with international standards.
