On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, members of the Syrian Democratic Forces arbitrarily arrested four civilians from the same family, all from the village of Al-Ratbah in the southeastern countryside of Raqqa Governorate. The arrests occurred after raiding their homes in the village, which is under their control. At the time of writing, the location to which the detainees were taken remains unknown, and the reasons behind their arrests are unknown.
Sources confirmed that the arrests were carried out without a legal warrant or court order, and without informing any of the detainees’ families of their whereabouts. Their phones were confiscated, preventing them from communicating with their families. The Syrian Network for Human Rights fears that they may be subjected to torture and may be forcibly disappeared.
We are continuing our investigations, including reviewing and collecting further 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: [email protected]
Legal Conclusions:
- This arrest, without an official warrant, clear charges, or referral to 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 detainees be informed of the reasons for their arrest and be able to challenge it before a court.
- Taking detainees to an unknown location and preventing them from communicating with their families or legal representatives 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.
- Confiscating detainees’ phones without a legal warrant violates the right to private property and constitutes an arbitrary practice that contravenes fundamental safeguards governing criminal proceedings.
- 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 the detainees in this incident, or bring them before a civilian court that meets the conditions for a fair trial, if there are genuine legal charges against them.
- Open a transparent and independent investigation into the circumstances of their detention, particularly into the allegations of degrading treatment, and hold those responsible for the violations accountable.
- Allow them to communicate with their families and lawyers representing them, and ensure their physical and psychological safety during their detention, in accordance with international standards.
- 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.
- Provide material and moral compensation to the victim’s family, 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.
