The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) reported in its latest monthly report, released on Monday, that it documented at least 213 cases of arbitrary detention in Syria in October, including eight children and one woman. The report also noted that the Assad regime detained 17 forcibly returned individuals from Lebanon.
According to the report, ongoing arbitrary detentions have significantly increased cases of enforced disappearance, positioning Syria as one of the worst countries globally in terms of forced disappearance.
The report detailed statistics on arbitrary detention cases and releases from detention centers, clarifying that these documented cases do not include abductions where the responsible party is unknown or cases involving criminal offenses like drug-related crimes or murder. The focus was on politically motivated detentions.
Of the 213 cases of arbitrary detention, 194 were classified as enforced disappearances. Of these, 131 were carried out by regime forces, including three children and one woman. Additionally, 43 cases were attributed to the PYD terrorist militia, which included four children, while 21 cases were linked to Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, including one child.
Geographically, Aleppo Province recorded the highest number of arbitrary detentions, followed by Damascus, then Rural Damascus and Homs, Idlib, Deir Ezzor, and Hama. The report included a comparison of detention figures across provinces.
The report also highlighted arrests targeting refugees returning from Lebanon, noting that these detentions occurred at official and unofficial border crossings between Syria and Lebanon, with most detainees being transferred to military and security detention centers in Homs, Damascus, and Aleppo.
The SNHR documented the detention of at least 17 returnees, most of them from Idlib Province, with the primary reasons being mandatory military conscription, reserve duty, and unauthorized entry into the country.
The Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) reiterated that Syria remains unsafe for refugee return, citing the same causes that initially led to their displacement—violence, detention, and torture. The SOC emphasized that regular human rights reports, both monthly and annual, continue to support this claim.
The SOC noted that labeling Syria as a safe country is a political classification, not grounded in facts on the ground, referencing reliable human rights reports that consistently document violations by the Assad regime against individuals forcibly returned from Lebanon. The SOC also cited the recent United Nations Human Rights Council resolution from July 31 and the latest report from the International Commission of Inquiry issued on October 9.
The SOC urged the international community to intensify efforts to advance the political process and implement international resolutions on Syria, particularly the Geneva Communique of 2012 and UNSC Resolutions 2118 and 2254, calling these the only viable solutions to address the root causes of the refugee crisis.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
