A recent series of violent crimes, abductions, and domestic abuses against young women and girls across Syrian governorates reveals a continuous pattern of violations met with deliberate neglect and obstruction of justice by de facto authorities, security forces, and judicial bodies. Documented testimonies and evidence point to active involvement by these entities in covering up for perpetrators, intimidating victims’ families, and failing to provide protection.
Judicial and Security Conduct in Cases of Murder and Violence
Recent cases demonstrate how judicial rulings and security measures directly hinder accountability:
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The Case of Nour Muhanad Al-Dous (Age 12) & Judicial Failure: The mother of 12-year-old Nour explicitly accused the presiding judge of outright negligence and refusing to accept a protection lawsuit against domestic abuse. The judge dismissed the plea under the pretext of “Sharia discipline,” asserting that it legally justifies parental authority over children even when leading to severe harm. This judicial refusal led to transferring custody to her father despite clear threats, resulting in Nour’s death and the discovery of her body in the Daraa countryside bearing severe marks of physical torture.
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The Case of Farah Al-Hamoud (Age 2.5) & Security Cover-ups: Following the discovery of toddler Farah strangled inside a feed warehouse in Ghabaghib, Daraa countryside, her mother publicly accused the General Security Agency of attempting to hastily close the file. The mother testified that security officials deliberately rushed to shut down the investigation to shield influential individuals involved in the crime from legal accountability.
Cases of Forced Disappearance, Abduction, and Pressure on Families
Abductions in several regions have been coupled with security pressure to silence families and suppress the truth:
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Sara Mohammad Abdullah (Age 22): Abducted in front of her institute in Bab Hood, Homs. Kidnappers threatened her execution if her father spoke to the media, while General Security officers simultaneously intimidated her father to suppress public outcry.
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Waad Al-Kurdi: Abducted in Inkhil, Daraa countryside, and later found. General Security personnel subsequently misled the public and coerced her family into signing official statements denying the abduction had occurred.
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Ibtisam Hussein Mohammad Al-Omar: Kidnapped at night by an unidentified three-man gang in Al-Bahamd village, Aleppo countryside. Her family later received extortion threats from unknown numbers demanding money.
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Batoul Ali: Lost contact after leaving her home in Yarmouk Camp, south of Damascus, following repeated harassment by a local operative affiliated with Al-Jolani groups.
Documented Crimes and Violations Against Children and Minors
Field records detail the full scope and specific circumstances of each case:
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Lujain Qantar (Age 13): Died from severe burn injuries in Suwayda, confirming to paramedics before her death that her uncle set her on fire.
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Natalie Mohammad Dakhil (Age 8): Kidnapped near Al-Hwayz, Jableh countryside, over land disputes. Returned after popular protests, bearing signs of physical beatings.
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Nour Dabook (Age 12): Vanished from Yarmouk Camp and was found days later in Jdeidat Al-Fadl under unclarified circumstances.
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Ola Khamis Al-Saleh (Age 3): Found strangled to death in an orchard behind her family home in Deir ez-Zor countryside.
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Aya (Age 2.5): Found abandoned on a Raqqa street, remaining unidentified for two weeks after her father left for Turkey.
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Lujain Khansa (Age 14): Shot dead alongside her mother and brother in the Al-Sabil neighborhood of Homs.
Complete Absence of Accountability and Collapse of Legal Systems
These escalating crimes prove that the current environment is governed by a systemic regime of total impunity, driven by security agencies and judicial bodies that prioritize political control and the protection of influential figures over the safety of citizens.
The unchecked proliferation of arms, the complete absence of an independent judiciary, and the transformation of security apparatuses into tools for concealing crimes rather than investigating them have effectively dismantled the rule of law. The Syrian government and controlling authorities bear direct responsibility for this widespread security chaos, as they actively shield criminal networks and influential operatives while blocking oversight, allowing violent crimes to persist completely unchecked.