Search Results

Sort by
News

Syria: Protesters Describe Beatings, Arrests

Syrians Returned to Streets Over Economic Meltdown

(Beirut) – Syrian security forces responded to a protest in the city of Sweida on June 15 by beating and arresting protesters demonstrating against the government’s failure to address the country’s economic meltdown, Human Rights Watch said today. The…
People hold up banners at a protest in Sweida on June 9, 2020
News

Russia, Turkey, and Iran Should Act on Syria Detainees

Use September 7 Meeting to Address Arbitrary Detentions, Disappearances, Abductions

(Beirut) – The Astana working group on detentions and abductions in the Syrian conflict should take immediate steps to address the Syrian government’s arbitrary detentions, torture of detainees, and enforced disappearances, 11 human…
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, Russia's President Vladimir Putin, and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lock hands during a group photo in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, April 4, 2018. © 2018 Tolga Bozoglu/Pool Photo via AP
News

Iraq/KRG: 1,400 Women, Children From ISIS Areas Detained

Investigate Killings, Abductions of Foreign Men

  (Beirut) – Iraqi authorities are holding more than 1,400 foreign women and their children who surrendered with ISIS fighters in late August 2017, Human Rights Watch said today. The detentions appear to have no legal…
Iraqi Ministry of Transportation buses taking internally displaced families to Hammam al-Alil in May 2017. In late August, Iraqi authorities bused 1,400 foreign women and children to the site. © 2017 Belkis Wille/Human Rights Watch
News

Syria: Political Detainees Tortured, Killed

Military and Counter-Terrorism Courts Used to Punish Peaceful Dissent

(New York) – The Syrian government is unlawfully holding tens of thousands of political detainees solely on the basis of their peaceful activity, Human Rights Watch said today in opening a campaign to cast light on their fate. Many have been held for long…
News

Inside the Syrian Black Hole

The renowned Syrian artist Youssef Abdelke was arrested on the evening of July 18, at a checkpoint outside the coastal city of Tartous. He was driving home with two friends when agents of the Syrian Political Security forces stopped the car at a…
News

Syria: Activists Arrested, Held Despite Pledge to Annan

Many Detained Incommunicado

(New York) – Syrian security forces are arbitrarily arresting and holding peaceful activists incommunicado, despite the government’s commitment under Kofi Annan’s six point plan to release everyone who has been arbitrarily detained. People being arrested…
News

Syria: Armed Opposition Groups Committing Abuses

End Kidnappings, Forced Confessions, and Executions

(New York) – Armed opposition elements have carried out serious human rights abuses, Human Rights Watch said today in a public letter to the Syrian National Council (SNC) and other leading Syrian opposition groups. Abuses include kidnapping, detention,…
News

Open Letter to the Leaders of the Syrian Opposition

Regarding Human Rights Abuses by Armed Opposition Members

We are writing to express our concern about increasing evidence, as described below, of kidnappings, the use of torture, and executions by armed Syrian opposition members and strongly urge you to work to ensure that all opposition members refrain from…
News

Syria: Jailed for ‘Weakening National Sentiment’

Arbitrary Detention, Torture, Discrimination Highlight Government’s Record in 2010

(New York) - Syria's authorities detained political and human rights activists, restricted freedom of expression, repressed its Kurdish minority, and held people incommunicado for lengthy periods, often torturing them, during 2010, Human Rights Watch said…
News

Syria: Release Student Blogger Held Incommunicado

19-Year-Old Woman Detained in 2009, Still No Charge

(New York) - The Syrian government should immediately release Tal al-Mallohi, a 19-year-old high school student and blogger held incommunicado without charge for nine months, Human Rights Watch said today. She has been held by Syria's security services…
News

Syria: Free Man Falsely Held as Witness

Damascus Claims He is Held for Inquiry Into Killing of Lebanon Ex-Premier

(New York) - The Syrian authorities should release Ziad Ramadan, whom the Syrian authorities falsely claim is detained so he can be interviewed by the international body investigating the assassination of Rafic Hariri, former prime minister of Lebanon,…
News

Syria: Lift Blackout on Prisoners’ Fate

No Information About Many Sednaya Detainees Since Violent Response to July 2008 Riot

(New York) - Syrian authorities should make public without further delay the fate of all prisoners whose whereabouts and well-being remain a mystery almost 18 months after security forces put down a riot at the Sednaya prison in July 2008, Human Rights…
News

Syria: Restore Jailed Lawyer’s Credentials

Muhanad al-Hasani Disbarred for Monitoring Trials, Defending Political Activists

(New York) - The Damascus Bar Association should reverse this week's decision to permanently disbar the lawyer and rights activist Muhanad al-Hasani, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch also urged Syrian authorities to free al-Hasani, who is…
News

Syria: Free Prominent Rights Lawyer

Muhanad al-Hasani Detained for Monitoring Trials, Defending Political Activists

(New York) - The Syrian government should free the lawyer and rights activist Muhanad al-Hasani immediately and unconditionally, Human Rights Watch said today. State Security, one of Syria's multiple intelligence services, detained al-Hasani on July 28…
News

Syria: Reveal Fate of Hariri-Case Detainee

Ziad Wasef Ramadan Not Seen Since September 2007

(New York) - Syrian authorities should immediately disclose the whereabouts and the reasons for the detention of Ziad Wasef Ramadan and free him unless there is credible evidence that he committed a crime, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights…
News

Letter To Bashar al-Asad on the detention of Ziad Wasef Ramadan

Your Excellency:     We are writing to inquire about the location, well-being and reasons for the detention of Mr. Ziad Wasef Ramadan, a Syrian national detained by Syria's security services since July 21, 2005 apparently in relation to the…
News

Syria: UN Rules Dissident’s Detention Illegal

Free Kamal Labwani, Rights Activist Serving 12-Year Sentence After Unfair Trial

(London) - Syrian authorities should immediately free Dr. Kamal Labwani, a prominent political and human rights activist, following a UN finding that his detention is arbitrary and thus unlawful, a group of leading human rights organizations said today.…
News

Syria: Reveal Fate of 17 Held Incommunicado

Detention of Kurds and Suspected Islamists for Months Raises Grave Concerns

(New York) - Syrian authorities should reveal the fate of at least 17 men held in incommunicado detention by members of the security services since August and September 2008, Human Rights Watch said today. The security services detained 13 men during an…