Idlib: Unidentified Gunmen Kidnap Relief Worker for Ransom

On September 19, 2018, an anonymous armed group kidnapped a relief worker of the Syria Charity Organization while on a mission in southern rural Idlib. The kidnappers demanded a $200,000 ransom as to set him free. Later on, the organization suspended its activities and gave the kidnappers a week to release him, threatening to entirely stop its activities in the area, according to testimonies obtained by Syrians for Truth and Justice/STJ.

On the condition of anonymity, one of the eyewitnesses, who were present during the kidnapping incident, told STJ the following:

 “Alaa Elaiwi, the director of Syria Charity Organization’s office in northern rural Hama, was on a mission, which aim was the distribution of the orphans’ monthly grants in the village of Sahyan in the Hish district, southern rural Idlib. While at work, a Honda van approached, on board of which were masked gunmen. They put a gun to Elaiwi’s head and dragged him inside the car. They also confiscated cellphones and two laptops, belonging to the team, in addition to $2000 and Elaiwi’s own car. They took the direction of the town of Babuline, southern rural Idlib, to then vanish completely.”

Five days after his abduction, the kidnappers contacted Elaiwi’s wife and demanded a ransom of $200,000. They also sent her photos and videos showing clear torture marks on the abductee’s body. According to STJ’s field researcher, Elaiwi is from the city of Aleppo, where he worked as a first aid responder prior to his displacement late in 2016.

A photo of Alaa Elaiwi with torture marks on his body, sent to his wife by the kidnappers, demanding a ransom of $200,000 five days from the abduction incident. Photo credit: Social Networking Sites.

In response to the incident, the Syria Charity Organization made a statement on October 3, 2018, in which it announced a temporary suspension of its activities for a week and demanded the release of the abductee. It stressed that if the abductee is not released over the week, the organization will entirely stop its work in the region, as it provides medical, humanitarian and relief services in northern rural Hama and southern rural Aleppo.

A copy of the statement published by Syria Charity Organization on October 3, 2018, in which it announces the suspension of its work and threatens to entirely stop in southern rural Idlib and northern rural Hama in protest to the abduction of its office’s director there.

In Idlib province and northern rural Hama, several kidnapping incidents targeted doctors, relief workers and civilians, the majority of whom were released in return for a ransom. It is worth mentioning, that the sides responsible for the kidnappings are yet unidentified, for, in most cases, the abductees failed to recognize their kidnappers. Covering the issue, STJ will publish a detailed report on the kidnappings that took place in the region lately, while it has already published separate news reports addressing kidnappings of doctors and pharmacists.[1]