10 women were arrested by pro-regime security forces on various charges in Hamoryah and Douma[1] cities, eastern Ghouta, between August 16 and September 2, 2018, according to testimonies obtained by STJ.
Two local sources[2] from inside eastern Ghouta, told STJ that agents of the Republican Guard and the Fourth Division conducted a wide wave of raids and arrests in Douma, on August 16, 2018, resulted in the capture of three women and many youths, on unknown charges, who were taken to undisclosed location.
On August 25, 2018 agents of the intelligence military raided a building in Douma, arresting 5 women on charges suggested to be contacting their relatives in rebel-held northern Syria.
On September 2, 2018, intelligence agents stormed a wedding in Douma and arrested the bride on the charge of marrying a man wanted for security branches, being affiliated with rebels and recently evacuated with them to northern Syria. The bride’s fate still unknown.
In Hamoryah city, a woman arrested in late July 2018, for contacting her son living in Turkey, and freed after 15 days.
Women taking part in medical, relief or community-based actions are prosecuted by security services, and some were taken to security offices to sign the reconciliation/settlement agreement. Harassments of women at regime checkpoints were also recorded, according to the previous sources.
Pro-government forces have earlier conducted many arrests and conscriptions against eastern Ghouta people in violation to the reconciliation agreement concluded.[3].
[1] Syrian troops and their allies recaptured all eastern Ghouta after a fierce offensive launched from February 18 and ended on April 8, 2018 under an agreement reached with Jaysh Al Islam, provides for releasing all of the detainees held by the latter in exchange for allowing its fighters, along with their families and civilians unwilling to settle, out toward northern Syria. This Agreement was preceded by many similar others signed with Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya in Harasta city on March 21, 2018, Failaq Al-Rahman and Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham/HTS on March 2, 2018. These agreements covered also the towns of Arbeen, Jobar, Ayn Tarma and Zamalka.
[2] The interviews conducted via Internet between 17 and 21 September 2018. Identities of sources are concealed for their safety.
[3] “In Contravention to the "Agreement Concluded" Syrian Regular Forces Forcibly Conscript Number of Duma Sons and Use Others for Looting Operations”, STJ, June 17, 2018; https://www.stj-sy.org/en/view/584 (Last edit: September 24, 2018).
“Eastern Ghouta: Preventing Youths from Leaving Accommodation Centers and Some Arrested by Syrian Security Forces”, STJ, September 13, 2018; https://stj-sy.org/en/view/738 (Last edit: September 24, 2018).