Local activists have documented the killing of Eli Simon Taqla (21 years old), a Christian civilian, after he was subjected to direct gunfire by unidentified armed men in the city of Mahardah, in the western countryside of Hama, on Friday, 31 January 2026. The incident adds to a growing pattern of violations targeting civilians in Syria.
According to available information, an armed group traveling in a Kia Rio vehicle stopped in front of the victim’s car and opened fire directly at him, killing him instantly, before fleeing the scene.
CCTV footage circulated locally shows that the victim’s father exited the vehicle less than one minute before the killing, carrying a bag containing gold jewelry, as he works as a goldsmith in Mahardah. The recordings indicate that the bag was not inside the vehicle at the time the gunmen arrived, suggesting that the shooting occurred after they failed to find the bag.
Although initial indications suggest that the incident bears a criminal nature, it occurs within a broader context of security breakdown and escalating violations against civilians, particularly those belonging to religious minorities in Syria, following the assumption of power by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. The incident has renewed calls for independent and transparent investigations and for holding those responsible accountable for such crimes.
Source: Rights Monitor
