The Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) documented in its report on the arrest in December 2020 that the regime forces arrested 4 people, the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces arrested 54 people, the opposition National Army arrested 41 people, and the HTS arrested 11 people.
Throughout the month, SHRC also documented that the families of 12 detainees in the regime’s prisons learnt of their death under torture, in addition to the death of detainees in the prisons of the Syrian Democratic Forces.
SHRC documented 24 releases from the regime forces prisons during the month.
First: Arrests
- The Syrian regime
On 12/8/2020, the regime forces arrested Ibrahim Ayed Al-Shahadat, who is from the city of Dael in the northern suburbs of Daraa Province, and took him to an unidentified destination. Shahadat is one of those who previously normalised their security situation with the regime.
On 12/16/ 2020, Air Force intelligence arrested Zaher Abdul Fattah Awir in the city of Dael in the northern countryside of Daraa, and took him to an unidentified destination.
On 12/19/2020, the Regime’s Military Security arrested Fouad Ahmed Al-Kharrouf and Ismail Al-Shatar at a checkpoint in the village of Jiddiya in the northern countryside of Daraa Province. Both men come from the city of Al-Sanamayn in the northern suburbs of Daraa Province. They were taken to an unidentified destination.
- Syrian Democratic Forces
On 12/1/2020, the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, backed by a helicopter of the International Coalition Forces, arrested the child Malik Hammoud Al-Ahmad Al-Hajar, who is from the city of Al-Shuhail in the eastern suburbs of Deir ez-Zor Province, after they raided his home in the city of Al-Shuhail, and took him to an unidentified destination.
On 12/2/2020, the Syrian Democratic Forces carried out a raid and arrest campaign in the village of Umm Raqiba in the city of Al-Shaddadi in the southern countryside of Al-Hasakah province, and arrested 15 civilians, including two children, and took them to one of its detention centres in the city of Al-Shaddadi.
On 12/4/2020, the Syrian Democratic Forces arrested Suleiman Abd Hammoud Al-Aswad, from Al-Baghouz town in the eastern suburbs of Deir ez-Zor province, after they raided his home at Al-Baghouz town, and took him to an unidentified destination.
On 12/12/2020, the Syrian Democratic Forces arrested the child Omar Ammar Hawash Al-Aboud (16 years), who is from the city of Al-Shuhail in the eastern suburbs of Deir ez-Zor Province, after they raided his home in Al-Khayasa neighbourhood in Al-Shuhail city and took him to an unidentified destination.
On 12/13/2020, the Syrian Democratic Forces carried out a raid and arrest campaign in the city of Shuhail in the eastern suburbs of Deir ez-Zor province, due to an anti-Syrian Democratic Forces demonstrations in the city. Eight civilians were arrested and taken to one of its detention centres.
On 12/16/2020, the Syrian Democratic Forces carried out a raid and arrest campaign in the town of Kashkiya and the city of Abu Hamam of the Shaitat area in the eastern suburbs of Deir ez-Zor province, due to an anti-Syrian Democratic Forces demonstrations in the two areas, and 4 civilians were arrested and taken to one of its detention centres.
On 12/17/2020, the Syrian Democratic Forces arrested Ahmad Eid Al-Mohsen, who is from the village of Ajaja in the Shaddadi region in the southern suburbs of Al-Hasakah province, after raiding his house, and took him to one of its detention centres in the city of Shaddadi.
On 12/19/2020, the Syrian Democratic Forces kidnapped the female child Sitra Ahmed Sheikho (17 years), who is from the village of Qishla in the city of Amuda in the north-eastern countryside of Al-Hasakah province, with the aim of enrolling her in the military recruitment after being lured on social media, and took her to one of its recruitment centres In Al-Hasakah Province.
On 12/24/2020, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) carried out a raid and arrest campaign in the villages of An-Numlah and Abu al-Naitel, of the town of Al-Sour in the northern suburbs of Deir ez-Zor province. Seven civilians were arrested and taken to an unidentified destination.
On 12/27/2020, the Syrian Democratic Forces carried out a campaign of arrests at one of its checkpoints near the Industrial City roundabout, north of Deir ez-Zor,. Ten civilians were arrested and taken to one of its detention centres in Deir ez-Zor.
On 12/29/2020, the Syrian Democratic Forces carried out a raid and arrest campaign in the village of Al-Zer, of Al-Basira in the eastern suburbs of Deir ez-Zor Province. Five civilians were arrested and taken to an unidentified destination.
- The National Army
On 12/2/2020, the National Army forces arrested Hussein Ibrahim Aliko (32 years) and Dalil Rashid Aliko (24 years) in the town of Jenderes in the northern suburbs of Aleppo province, and took them to an unidentified destination.
On 12/12/2020, the National Army forces arrested Azad Ismail, who is from the village of Medanaki of Afrin city in the northern suburbs of Aleppo province, after they raided his home in the village and took him to an unidentified destination.
On 12/12/2020, the National Army forces carried out a raid and arrest campaign in the village of Ba`a, of Afrin city in the northern suburbs of Aleppo province, and 15 civilians were arrested and taken to one of its detention centres.
On 12/20/2020, the National Army forces carried out a raid and arrest campaign in the town of Maabatli, of Afrin city in the northern suburbs of Aleppo province, and 13 civilians were arrested and took them to an unidentified destination.
On 12/22/2020, the National Army forces carried out a raid and arrest campaign in the villages of Mastka and Aranda, of Afrin in the northern suburbs of Aleppo province, and 10 civilians were arrested and taken to an unidentified destination.
- Al-Sham Liberation (HTS)
On 12/16/2020, HTS arrested Faisal Abdul Razzaq Al-Bayoush, the director of the logistical office of the Union of Revolutionary Offices. He is from Kafr Nobol in the southern suburbs of Idlib Province, while he was at Radio Fresh’s office in the city of Salqin in the western countryside of Idlib province because of his criticism of a member of the local council of the city of Kafr Nobol on his Facebook page, and was taken to an unidentified destination.
On 12/22/2020, HTS carried out a raid and arrest campaign in the town of Ma’arat Misrin in the northern countryside of Idlib province, and 9 civilians were arrested and taken to an unidentified destination.
On 12/22/2020, HTS arrested at one of its checkpoints in the village of Ghazawiya in the western countryside of Aleppo province, media activist Abd al-Fattah al-Hussein, from the city of Saraqib in the northern suburbs of Idlib province, as he passed the checkpoint on his way from the city of Idlib to Afrin region, north of Aleppo, and was taken to an unidentified destination.
Second: Deaths Under Torture
- The Syrian Regime
On 12/1/2020, the detainees’ family of Ziad Mahmoud Al-Ghurair learnt of his death under torture. He was a member of the armed opposition factions in Daraa province, and from the eastern town of Gharya in the eastern suburbs of Daraa province. He was arrested by the Syrian regime forces in July 2018, on Saida town in the eastern countryside of Daraa province.
On 12/12/2020, the detainee’s family of Muhannad Muhammad al-Ahmad learnt of his death under torture. He is (24 years) from the village of Jumla in the western countryside of Daraa province. The Syrian regime forces arrested him in 2018 while he was undergoing a training course at a civil police training centre in the city Damascus, and took him to the Raid branch prison in the city of Damascus, and then to the Sednaya military prison in Rif Dimashq province. His relatives were informed of his death in the Tishreen Military Hospital in Damascus, and his body was handed over to his family with signs of torture on his body.
On 12/6/2020, the detainee’s family of Hassan Abdul-Razzaq Hammoud, learnt of his death under torture. He is an officer with the rank of pilot colonel, a graduate of Special Course 14, from the town of Termanin in the northern countryside of Idlib province. The Syrian regime forces had arrested him in 2013.
On 12/8/2020, the detainees’ family of Muhammad Ibrahim al-Kayed learnt of his death under torture. He is a soldier who defected from the Syrian regime forces, from the village of Qarafa in the eastern suburbs of Daraa province. He was arrested by the Syrian regime forces in 2018, and he was among those who had previously normalised their security situation.
On 12/8/2020, the detainee’s family of Miss Leila Shweikani learnt of her death under torture, in Sednaya Military Prison.
On 12/18/2020, the detainee’s family of Thaer Ayyash learnt of his death under torture. He is from Jamreen village in the eastern suburbs of Daraa province. The Syrian regime forces had arrested him in 2018, after he surrendered himself to the political security forces of the Syrian regime in the city of Daraa, and took him to one of the Its detention centres in Damascus.
On 12/19/2020, the detainee’s family of Ziyad Ahmed Al-Aloush learnt of his death under torture. He is from the city of Sanamayn in the northern suburbs of Daraa province, Western Daraa.
On 12/21/2020, the detainee’s family of Rafeh Aswad Al-Khulaf Al-Ali, learnt of his death under torture. He is from the village of Al-Jardhi in the eastern suburbs of Deir ez-Zor province. He was arrested in Damascus upon his return from Lebanon, and was taken to one of regime’s detention centres in the city of Damascus.
On 12/22/2020, the detainee’s family of Hassan Azhari learnt of his death under torture. He is a media activist, from the city of Lattakia, and was arrested by the Syrian regime forces in 2012.
On 12/22/2020, the detainee’s family of Ismail Ahmad Ibrahim al-Shamali learnt of his death under torture. He is a Jordanian citizen of Palestinian origin, residing in Tafas in the western countryside of Daraa Province, born in 1953. He was arrested by the Syrian regime forces in 1995, and he was sentenced to a life imprisonment by the SSSC on charges of “possessing confidential documents and information that must remain confidential in order to preserve the safety of the state”, according to Article 272 of the Syrian Penal Code, then his sentence was reduced to 20 years imprisonment.
On 12/24/2020, the detainee’s family of Muhannad Qassim Muhammad Saeed al-Shuli learnt of his death under torture. He is a university student at the Faculty of Engineering, the University of Damascus, from the city of Nawa in the western countryside of Daraa Province, born in 1991.He was arrested by the Syrian regime forces on January 9, 2013, upon passing one of its checkpoints in Damascus.
On 12/27/2020, the detainee’s family of Bilal Saeed Al-Zarqan learnt of his death under torture. He is from the town of Al-Harra in the countryside of Daraa province, after a 3-year detention in Sednaya prison.
- Syrian Democratic Forces
On 1/12/2020, the detainee’s family of Ismail Muhammad Al-Jadou’ learnt of his death under torture. He is from Ain Issa city in the northern suburbs of Raqqa province. He is 25 years old. The Syrian Democratic Forces had arrested him after a raid on his house in Ain Issa, and took him to one of its detention centres in Ain Issa, He was tortured to death, and the next day his body was delivered to his family, bearing signs of torture.
On 12/27/2020, the detainee’s family of Ayyash Aliwi al-Najm learnt of his death under torture. He is from the city of Albu Kamal in the eastern suburbs of Deir ez-Zor province. He was taken to one of its detention centres in Al-Hasakah province.
Third: The Releases
- The Syrian Regime
On 12/1/2020, the Syrian regime forces released the detainee Osama Muhammad Al-Zoubi, who is from the town of Al-Musaifra in the suburbs of Daraa province, after being arrested for nearly 8 years.
On 12/1/2020, the Syrian regime forces released the detainee Ahmed Muhammad Al-Zoubi, who is from the town of Al-Musaifra in the suburbs of Daraa province, after an arrest that lasted about a month.
On 12/2/2020, the Syrian regime forces released the detainee Alaa Al-Shuwaili, who is from the town of Saida in the Daraa province, after an arrest that lasted about 4 months.
On 12/7/2020, the regime forces released five detainees from Tafas town in the Daraa province suburbs, and they are:
- Ahd Abu Dahloush
- Anas Nasser Rashdan
- Essam Azzam Al-Zoubi
- Rani Alberto
- Muhammad Ahmad Al-Maghed
On 12/7/2020, the regime forces released Basil Nazih Qwaider al-Hariri, who is from the town of Dael in the countryside of Daraa province, after being arrested for nearly two years.
On 12/7/ 2020, the regime forces released Baha Ahmed Yassin Al-Awad Al-Hariri, who is from the town of Dael in the countryside of Daraa province, after being arrested for nearly two years.
On 12/9/ 2020, the regime forces released Badr Abu Jawad, who is from the town of Abtaa in the Daraa province, after being arrested for nearly two years.
On 12/10/2020, the regime forces released their detainee, Murad Mamoun Al-Jamous, who is from Abtaa town in the Daraa province, after being arrested for nearly two years.
On 12/11/2020, the regime forces released their detainee, Moataz Hazem Al-Hasheesh, who is from Daraa province, after a one-year and three-month detention.
On 12/13/2020, the regime forces released Ibrahim Abdullah Al-Zobani, who is from the town of Al-Muzayrib in Daraa province, after being arrested for nearly 9 years.
On 12/13/2020, the regime forces released Ahmed Muhammad Al-Awad Barghouth, who is from the town of Dael in the suburbs of Daraa province, after nearly 10 months of arrest.
On 12/13/2020, the regime forces released Abdul Rahim Khaled Al-Zoubi, who is from the town of Al-Harak in the countryside of Daraa province, after being arrested for nearly two and a half years.
On 12/13/2020, the regime forces released Muhammad Nasser Atallah Al-Adawi, who is from the town of Al-Harak in the countryside of Daraa province, after an arrest that lasted nearly two and a half years.
On 12/13/2020, the regime forces released Bashar Muhammad Yusef al-Hariri, who is from the town of Dael in the countryside of Daraa province, after being arrested for nearly two years.
On 12/14/2020, the regime forces released Zahir Khalil Ismail Al-Shehadat, who is from the town of Dael in the countryside of Daraa province, after an arrest that lasted nearly two and a half years.
On 12/18/ 2020, the regime forces released Hassan Ibrahim Abu Zaid, who is from the town of Dael in the countryside of Daraa province, after being arrested for about a year.
On 12/19/2020, the regime forces released Talal Aslan, who is from the town of Shannan in the suburbs of Idlib province, after being arrested for nearly 10 years.
On 12/20/2020, the regime forces released the detainee Mahmoud Harhash, who is from the town of Saqib in the Eastern Ghouta Province, in Rif Dimashq Province, after an arrest that lasted about 9 years.
On 12/24/2020, the regime forces released Muhammad Abdullah Abu al-Khaish, who was from the town of Al-Fateira in Idlib province, after an arrest that lasted about two years.
On 12/24/2020, the regime forces released Nasr Al-Hudayd, who was from the town of Farwan in the suburbs of Idlib province, after being arrested for nearly 9 years.