Syria: Further Enforced Disappearances in Al Lataminah

On 20 November 2014, Alkarama and Human Rights Guardians sent a communication to the United Nation Working Group on Enforced Disappearances (WGEID), regarding the cases of two Syrian citizens disappeared from the village of Al Lataminah, in the Governorate of Hama.

On 15 April 2012, 24-year old worker, Hassan Al Bakour was arrested without any warrant in the streets of Al Lataminah by a patrol of the Syrian Army and Air Intelligence forces, some dressed in military clothes and others in civilian clothes. To this day, his whereabouts remain unknown. As it was reported by many witnesses, his arrest was not an isolated case. The same day, several other young men were arrested during a raid commanded by Colonel Suheil Al Hassan, in a joint operation between the Syrian Army and Air Intelligence forces.

On 2 December 2014, 43-year old married worker, Bader Saleh was travelling by bus on the main road of Al Lataminah where he also lives, when he was arrested by members of the Syrian Army in control of the village at the time, who were dressed in civilian clothes and did not show any warrant whilst proceeding to his arrest. His whereabouts also remain unknown to date.

In light of this information, Alkarama and Human Rights Guardians sent a communication to the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) to call upon the Syrian authorities to investigate Hassan and Bader's cases and reveal their whereabouts, to allow their families to visit them without restriction and release them immediately. The systematic practice of enforced disappearance has to be stopped and the Syrian authorities need to ensure all appropriate measures to abolish it.

For more information or an interview, please contact the media team at media@alkarama.org (Dir: +41 22 734 1007 Ext: 810)