Violations Documentation Center: Surge in Kidnappings of Kurds in Syria

The Violations Documentation Center reported that at least 14 Kurdish citizens have been kidnapped since the beginning of September in various parts of Syria, including Afrin, Aleppo, and Damascus, amid a noticeable escalation in violations against this segment of the population.

Method of Kidnappings

The center indicated that most kidnappings occurred through raids on victims’ homes, involving forced entry, door-breaking, house searches, and looting of contents, without any judicial warrants. There were also cases of abductions at checkpoints or on roads, with no information available about the detainees’ whereabouts or the charges against them.

Statistics Since Early 2025

Annual documentation shows that the number of kidnapped Kurds since the beginning of 2025 until the end of August reached 190 individuals, including two children under 18 years old, nine women, and 56 persons suffering from chronic illnesses. The actual number is likely higher, as some families refrain from disclosing information about their relatives for security reasons.

Absence of Official Procedures

The center confirmed that all kidnapping cases occurred without judicial warrants issued by the public prosecutor, constituting serious violations of Syrian law and international human rights standards. It added that contact with the kidnapped individuals is often lost immediately after the abduction, increasing the severity of the situation.

Call for International Intervention

The center’s administration called on the international community and human rights organizations to pressure for stopping these practices, ensure accountability for those responsible, disclose the fate of the kidnapped, and guarantee their physical and psychological safety.