SOHR Demands Clarification of Legal Grounds for Arrests and Investigation into the Elderly Man’s Detention and Humiliation Amid Concerns for Employees’ Rights During Institutional Integration Phase
The arrests of two Kurdish citizens in the city of Raqqa and its countryside town of Ain Issa have raised questions regarding the legal grounds for detentions linked to previous employment with Autonomous Administration institutions and familial affiliation with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), following the release of the elderly man arrested in Ain Issa, while the other citizen remains in custody, according to reported information.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the citizen who remains detained worked in the agricultural institution affiliated with the Autonomous Administration in Raqqa city. He was arrested over his previous work with its institutions, with no clear information available regarding the legal grounds for his detention or whether other charges have been brought against him.
In a separate incident, a Kurdish elderly man arrested in the Ain Issa area in the Raqqa countryside was released following what was described as a malicious report related to his son’s affiliation with the Syrian Democratic Forces. Information indicated that the elderly man was subjected to humiliation during his detention, raising questions about the circumstances of his arrest and his treatment.
The two incidents highlight the importance of verifying the authenticity of reports before taking action against citizens, ensuring the dignity and rights of detainees are safeguarded, and avoiding holding individuals responsible for the actions or affiliations of their relatives.
These developments come alongside the ongoing integration of institutions and their staff into Syrian state institutions, as part of the reorganization of civil and military bodies. The arrests targeting former Autonomous Administration employees raise concerns over their implications for the integration process and the extent to which necessary guarantees are provided to protect workers’ rights during this phase.
In this context, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights emphasized the need to disclose the circumstances surrounding the detention of the citizen who remains in custody, clarify the legal grounds for his arrest, and guarantee his legal and human rights, calling for his release if he is not proven to have committed any legal violation warranting continued detention.
Furthermore, SOHR called for an investigation into the circumstances of the elderly man’s arrest and the humiliation he suffered, verification of the report concerning his son, and accountability for those responsible for any legally proven abuses.
SOHR stressed that prior work with Autonomous Administration institutions or familial ties to individuals belonging to the SDF should not, in themselves, constitute justification for arrest. It emphasized that the success of integration processes requires clear legal guarantees, safeguarding the dignity of citizens, protecting employees’ rights, and enhancing trust in the measures taken, thereby contributing to the consolidation of societal stability.
Note: This text is translated from the original Arabic version. Read the Arabic version:Click here
