The arrest of Dr. Ali Assi, an 80-year-old member of the Alawite community who specializes in cardiac surgery, has sparked anger and resentment in the city of Homs after it was revealed that he was being held by security forces, following more than three months during which his family had no information about his whereabouts.
According to circulating reports, the doctor’s family was informed that he was being held by the General Security forces after being unaware of his whereabouts for an extended period. He has reportedly been accused of committing serious violations against detainees and practicing torture in military hospitals.
The allegations have sparked controversy, particularly given that Dr. Ali Assi retired at the end of 2011. He is also known in Homs for providing free medical services to impoverished patients from different religious communities without discrimination.
Following news of his arrest, former patients of the doctor shared comments on social media expressing their condemnation of his detention and calling for the circumstances of the case to be disclosed, as well as for a transparent investigation into the allegations against him and the conditions of his detention.
Dr. Ali Assi’s arrest comes amid a tense security situation in Homs Governorate, where, according to activists and local sources, incidents of kidnapping and killings reportedly occur on sectarian grounds, alongside criticism of the performance of security agencies and officials in the governorate.
The details of the allegations against the doctor and the circumstances surrounding his detention over the past three months remain unclear, as calls continue to grow for the circumstances of the case to be disclosed and for his right to a fair and transparent trial to be guaranteed.
Note: This text is translated from the original Arabic version. Read the Arabic version:Click here
