The southern Syrian province of Suwayda is witnessing a harrowing human rights crisis. Under the shadow of military escalations that began in mid-2025, a pattern of arbitrary arrests, extortion, and the enforced disappearance of minors has emerged. Today, the names of children like Hamza Aqel, Karim Amer, and the Haddad brothers have become symbols of a struggle for basic dignity and freedom.
Hamza Aqel: Five Months in the Shadows
Hamza Aqel, a 16-year-old student with dreams of becoming an engineer, was abducted in mid-July 2025 following a violent military incursion into the village of Al-Mujaymir. For months, his family lived in a void of information, punctuated only by cruel extortion.
Individuals identifying themselves as “Public Security” (Amman al-Aam) contacted the family using Hamza’s own phone, demanding $2,000 just for the chance to hear his voice. It was only through the testimony of a released detainee, Dani al-Rashid, that Hamza’s whereabouts were confirmed. Al-Rashid reported seeing Hamza in a cell opposite his own in the notorious Adra Prison, confirming that the teenager is being held without charge or legal justification.
Tales of Torture: Bashar and Yanal al-Haddad
While some find a path to freedom, they carry back stories of horror. Brothers Bashar and Yanal al-Haddad were released on December 31, 2025. Their testimonies paint a grim picture of life inside:
* Forced Labor: Children are subjected to grueling physical tasks.
* Religious Coercion: Minors are forced to perform specific religious rituals against their will.
* Physical Abuse: Both brothers reported being subjected to severe beatings and systematic torture.
The Growing List of the Disappeared
The Suwayda Center for Documentation and Media has been working tirelessly to track these violations. Their findings are alarming:
* 74 Confirmed Detainees: The number of identified residents from Suwayda held in Adra Prison has risen to 74.
* Official Discrepancies: A list obtained from within the prison contained 64 names, but notably excluded the Haddad brothers and others, suggesting the actual number of detainees is likely much higher.
* Unknown Fates: Karim Hassan Amer (born in 2009) remains missing, with no confirmed information regarding his safety or location.
During their debriefing, the Haddad brothers identified eight additional missing persons from photos: Yaman Abu Hassoun, Hadi Atif al-Suwayd, Hayel al-Omar, Yazan al-Halabi, Tamer al-Muayyad, Hamada Diab, Wiam Faraj, and Moatasem Salah.
A Call for Urgent International Action
The situation in Suwayda is not merely a local conflict; it is a blatant violation of international law and the rights of the child. The “de facto” authorities and the transitional government are responsible for the safety of these minors.
The Suwayda Center for Documentation and Media demands:
– Immediate Disclosure: The full names and conditions of all detainees must be made public.
– Unconditional Release: An end to the arbitrary detention of children and civilians.
– Humanitarian Access: International human rights organizations must be granted access to Adra Prison to verify the health and safety of those held.
The international community cannot remain silent while the youth of Suwayda are traded for ransom or broken in underground cells. Save the children of Suwayda.