The Syrian Future Movement is following with deep sorrow and concern the case of young Mohammed Ghamira, who was severely beaten at the police station in the city of Al-Haffah in the Latakia countryside. This resulted in a brain hemorrhage and him falling into a coma in the intensive care unit at Tishreen University Hospital, after being detained for approximately three days following a financial complaint.
Reports indicate that Ghamira suffers from hemophilia, a blood clotting disorder that makes bleeding more dangerous. His wife and brother had previously informed the officers at the station of his precarious health condition and asked them not to beat him.
He was released after a judge ordered his release, but upon his release, he was suffering from internal bleeding and a brain hemorrhage. His heart stopped three times before doctors were able to resuscitate him.
The Syrian Future Movement commends the demands of Ghamira’s family and activists for a swift and transparent investigation. It expresses its full solidarity with the young man and his family and wishes him a speedy recovery. It is worth recalling that what happened at the al-Haffa police station, if its details are confirmed, constitutes a flagrant violation of the law and human values, and raises serious questions about the extent to which the new state institutions are committed to human rights standards and protecting citizens from torture and ill-treatment, especially given the presence of sick and vulnerable individuals in detention centers.
The Syrian Future Movement notes that this case reflects structural challenges within the detention and criminal justice system, requiring fundamental reform.
We see three main problems in the details of this case:
First: The continued practice of torture and ill-treatment despite our victory over the Assad regime. This is similar to the practices of the former regime, from which Syrians suffered for decades and for which they paid a heavy price to be rid of.
We warn that the continuation of such practices, even if isolated incidents, undermines citizens’ trust in the institutions of their new state and threatens the entire transitional justice process that we are striving to establish and empower in the new Syria.
Second: The absence of protection mechanisms for the most vulnerable groups. The case of Ghamira demonstrates the lack of clear protocols for dealing with detainees with special health conditions, even though his family had previously informed the police station of his condition. This necessitates the development of medical screening systems for detainees, providing them with necessary healthcare, and preventing any form of violence against them.
Third: The need for an independent and transparent investigation. We emphasize that the investigation into this case should not be limited to punishing the perpetrators, but must extend to reviewing security procedures and protocols in all detention centers to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies and to uncover any structural flaws that allowed them to occur.
Based on its national and ethical responsibility, the Syrian Future Movement recommends adopting a comprehensive strategy to address the issue of torture and arbitrary detention in Syria, based on the following principles:
First, ensuring an urgent, independent, and comprehensive investigation into the Ghamira case through:
- The formation of an independent commission of inquiry, comprising judges and experts in forensic medicine and human rights, to uncover the circumstances of the case, determine individual responsibilities, and refer those involved to a fair judiciary.
- Announcing the results of the investigation transparently, holding accountable all those found responsible for the violation, providing fair compensation to the victim and their family, and ensuring they receive the necessary medical care.
Second, putting an end to the phenomenon of torture and impunity through:
- Enacting legislation that criminalizes torture and ill-treatment in detention centers and stipulates deterrent penalties for violators, in accordance with the United Nations Convention against Torture, which Syria ratified in 2004.
- Activating independent oversight mechanisms, such as the National Preventive Mechanism against Torture stipulated by the United Nations Convention, to ensure regular and unannounced visits to places of detention and to verify the conditions of detainees.
- Adopting clear codes of conduct for internal security personnel, and implementing mandatory training programs on human rights, combating torture, and dealing with detainees with disabilities.
Third, reforming the criminal justice system and places of detention:
- Developing a system for mandatory medical examinations of detainees upon their entry into detention centers, providing them with necessary healthcare, and informing their families of their health status.
- Review detention procedures and guarantee detainees’ right to immediate access to legal counsel and their families, preventing any delays or obstruction of this right.
- Establish a unified national registry of detainees, updated daily, providing families and relevant judicial authorities with accurate information about detention facilities and detainees’ cases.
Fourth, entrench a culture of human rights within security and judicial institutions:
- Launch mandatory training programs on human rights and combating torture for internal security personnel, judges, and public prosecutors, in cooperation with specialized international organizations.
- Establish an independent mechanism to receive citizens’ complaints regarding human rights violations in detention centers and ensure they are addressed seriously and transparently.
- Strengthen cooperation with national and international human rights organizations to benefit from their expertise in combating torture and reforming security and judicial institutions.
The Syrian Future Movement appreciates any step taken to address the case of Mohammed Ghamira and ensure justice for him and his family. The Syrian Future Movement reiterates that combating torture and arbitrary detention is a moral and humanitarian obligation, and a true test of the new Syria’s commitment to human rights standards and human dignity.
The Syrian Future Movement affirms that the continuation of such practices, regardless of who perpetrates them, undermines all efforts to build a state of law and institutions, and reproduces the tragedies of the past that Syrians have suffered for decades.
For its part, the Syrian Future Movement will remain a supporter of all that strengthens human rights and eradicates the sources of torture, criticizing all shortcomings and monitoring all achievements, striving for a new Syria where justice and dignity prevail, and where there is no place for torture or impunity.
