According to the so-called Syrian Human Rights Observation (SOHR), at least eight civilians from various backgrounds were tortured in July after arbitrary detention in various parts of Syria.
The monitor documented multiple cases that reveal not only physical atrocities, but also intentional humiliation and sectarian abuse.
One of the most vigilant incidents on July 23rd took place at checkpoints in Tartus on the west coast. Four young people from the Alawite community were detained by so-called general security forces.
One individual, Ahmed Kaua, is said to have been injured due to his sect’s identity. After refusing to imitate a dog, he was brutally beaten and died.
The last three individuals were taken into custody without charge. HTS authorities secretly attempted to bury the deceased beyond village boundaries that exacerbated tensions within the community.
On July 29th, Sohre reported that five civilians had died at HOMS. They were detained during a general security attack held at Wadi Al Dahab in late December 2024.
Two other individuals detained from the same area were likewise killed and tortured and quietly buried in the cemetery of Teru Al Nasr.
On July 30, another incident occurred in which a young man from the Arcaborn district of Damascus lost his life. He returned from Germany for a brief visit and was arrested near Umayyad Mosque. His body was then returned to his family, showing obvious signs of torture, including many bruises and injuries.
These incidents take place in the larger framework of intense oppression and a decline in Syrian rule of law following the collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government in late 2024.
Sohr condemned the actions of the HTS military as a blatant violation of human rights and international treaties that prohibit torture.
Watchdog calls for a transparent investigation into all deaths occurring in detention and for independent judicial agencies to ensure that the responsible person is held liable.
The war monitor also urged the rapid release of all individuals detained arbitrarily and the protection of legal rights without political or security interference.
The violence targeting the Syrian Alawian community will maintain the aftermath of a brutal campaign carried out by the HTS forces in March.
At least 1,600 Alawian civilians were killed in at least 55 different massacres over a three-day span that began on March 7th, according to Sohr. These massacres were also marked by the organized looting and incineration of Alawite housing.
rhm/