Home Human Rights Journalism Syria: Documentation of Enforced Disappearances and Arbitrary Arrests in the al-Qadam Neighborhood of Damascus

Syria: Documentation of Enforced Disappearances and Arbitrary Arrests in the al-Qadam Neighborhood of Damascus

The Syrian Transitional Authorities Should Initiate An Investigation Into The Alleged Violations Detailed In This Report, Which Targeted Individuals From The Alawite Community, Hold Those Responsible Accountable, And Immediately Disclose The Fate Of Those Forcibly Disappeared

by bassamalahmed
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This publication was funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Ceasefire/STJ and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

1. Executive Summary

This report presents a series of events and violations documented by Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ), shedding light on two campaigns that targeted Syrians —most of them from the Alawite community— residing in the al-‘Anazah/al-‘Anazi quarter of the al-Qadam neighborhood in Damascus. The first campaign took place in late December 2024, while the second was carried out on 7 March 2025, coinciding with the onset of escalating violence in Syria’s coastal region. The two campaigns resulted in the disappearance of dozens of residents, amid reports of extrajudicial executions.

In addition to in-depth open-source research and data triangulation to verify accuracy, this report is based on five direct, detailed testimonies collected between January and March 2025 through individual online interviews conducted by STJ’s documentation teams using secure communication tools. Testimonies were gathered in accordance with STJ’s witness protection and data preservation protocols. All sources were informed of the voluntary nature of the interview and the possible uses of the information they shared, including the publication of this report. Out of concern for retaliation, all sources chose to remain anonymous, and pseudonyms are used throughout the report to reference quoted statements.

The testimonies reveal grave human rights violations committed during the two documented campaigns in the al-Qadam neighborhood. These include arbitrary arrests without judicial warrants and deprivation of liberty outside any legal framework. Several cases of enforced disappearance were also documented, whereby authorities denied the detainees’ presence or refused to disclose their fate or place of detention. Some testimonies reported that detainees, including minors, were subjected to physical and psychological torture and ill-treatment. These violations constitute assaults on personal dignity and liberty, in direct contravention of the Syrian Constitutional Declaration and binding international legal instruments.

The collected testimonies indicate that the violations were not isolated or spontaneous acts but were carried out by members of armed factions, some of which operate under the supervision of the Ministry of Defense within the Syrian transitional government. Certain individuals were repeatedly named in separate accounts, warranting thorough investigations into their possible involvement. Additionally, several forcibly disappeared persons were later located in official detention centers, supporting the hypothesis that some formal entities had prior knowledge or coordination regarding these detentions. In light of the absence of clear accountability mechanisms and the weakness of official discourse against hate speech, there is a pressing need to activate transparent and independent accountability processes that can address the violations, rebuild victims’ and families’ trust in justice, and prevent recurrence.

Given the complex personal backgrounds of some of the individuals documented in this report —some of whom had previously worked in institutions affiliated with the former regime— STJ underscores the legal principles guaranteeing equal protection and the right of every individual to a fair trial based on sufficient evidence. All persons are equal before the law and entitled without discrimination to equal protection under it, and the presumption of innocence remains in effect until a final judicial ruling is issued. This principle is also enshrined in Article 17 of the Syrian Constitutional Declaration.

2. Background

In March 2025, several regions across Syria witnessed a dangerous escalation in sectarian violence, which particularly targeted members of the Alawite community. According to testimonies and reports documented by Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ), these incidents were accompanied by an unprecedented wave of incitement and widespread security and military campaigns in the Syrian coastal region as well as in the rural areas of Homs and Hama, where the majority of Alawite communities are concentrated. These campaigns resulted in mass killings and forced numerous families to flee, many of them seeking refuge in Lebanon.

In addition to the areas mentioned, Alawite populations are also present in several neighborhoods of the capital, Damascus. Testimonies documented by STJ for the purposes of this report indicate that violations extended to these Damascene neighborhoods as well —particularly al-Qadam— where cases of abduction and violence against civilians were reported.

Against this backdrop, the report focuses on incidents that took place in the al-Qadam neighborhood of Damascus during December 2024 and March 2025, drawing on direct testimonies and local sources. It documents patterns of violations committed against civilians in the neighborhood, including arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and ill-treatment. The report further seeks to examine the circumstances under which these violations occurred and identify the potential responsible parties. While it does not claim to provide an exhaustive account of all incidents, it aims to offer a well-documented narrative that contributes to revealing the truth and laying the foundation for serious demands for accountability and guarantees of non-repetition.

To Read the Full Report in PDF Format, Click Here .

 

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