Complaints over Public Security Practices in Wadi Barada, Damascus Countryside

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has received several complaints from residents of Wadi Barada and its villages regarding the practices of public security elements. These practices include a heavy deployment of military vehicles and arrests in some cases.

Sources indicated that the official in charge of the area is Brigadier General Ahmed Al-Dalati, adding that residents hold him responsible for some violations, including the daily deployment of military vehicles and “Doshka” armored vehicles to the villages without clear reasons.

The sources also reported that public security elements had previously arrested a young man on his wedding day, while other reports mentioned cases of theft of pharmacy contents during arrests. On October 4, the town of Deir Muqaran witnessed tension after a public security patrol attempted to raid a wedding party to arrest an individual, leading to clashes between security elements and residents, resulting in injuries among civilians and security personnel.

According to the Observatory, the incident was followed by a wide-scale security alert in the town, amid fears of escalating tensions and further arrests. This comes despite previous statements by the interim president, who praised the residents of Wadi Barada and its villages for their resistance against the former regime since 2012 and their sacrifices over the years, affirming their commitment to maintaining the region’s security and stability.