Widespread kidnapping in Syria | Nearly 65 civilians kidnapped in Al-Suwaidaa province since early 2021

As security situation is deteriorating in Al-Suwaidaa province, as well as across the entire Syrian geography, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights would like to shed light on the worrying phenomenon of kidnapping in the province. According to SOHR statistics, 64 people, including four children were kidnapped and documented by names in Al-Suwaidaa province in 2021. However, SOHR confidently estimates that the total number of kidnapped people is much higher.

 

Collecting ransoms, retaliation and personal disputes were the prominent motivations behind most of these kidnappings. Accordingly, we, at the Syrian Observatory, blame the prevalence of kidnapping gangs on the Syrian regime, the “symbolic” holder of power in the province, especially since these gangs are well-known and some of them are armed, publicly and secretly, by the regime’s security services. Furthermore, some of these gangs practice their crimes in full view of local factions which claim that they work on protecting civilians.

 

In this report, SOHR focuses on the kidnappings of civilians only, not taking into account incidents of kidnapping of military personnel of regime forces or local factions. It is worth noting that countless kidnappings in Al-Suwaidaa of people have not been documented by names, as those people were released a few hours or days after their kidnap, as well as swap deals between local gunmen from Al-Suwaidaa and others from Daraa.

 

Further details of the circumstances of kidnappings in Al-Suwaidaa province in 2021 could be summarised as follows:

 

January: Seven people kidnapped

 

• January 2: unknown gunmen kidnapped a civilian known by his initials as A. K., a fuel truck driver from Rif Dimashq, after they blocked his way while he was passing through Shahbaa city. The kidnappers asked the man’s family to pay a ransom in return for his release. The civilian was released two weeks later, after his family paid the ransom demanded.

 

• January 7: two civilians known by their initials as B. A. and M. A. from Homs were kidnapped by unknown individuals who lured the two men to Al-Suwaidaa. The kidnappers communicated with the two men’s relatives, asking for a ransom in return for his release.

 

• January 8: an armed gang from Daraa kidnapped a young man known by his initials as W. J. from Al-Suwaidaa province, after the gang blocked his way in Nahteh village, while he was returning from Al-Mulayhat own in the eastern countryside of Daraa. The kidnappers asked for a ransom in return for releasing him, but he was released a week later after mediations by dignitaries from Daraa province.

 

• January 27: three young men known by their initials as “M. B.”, “W. A.” and “A. D.” from Damascus were kidnapped in Al-Suwaidaa, while the identities of the kidnappers remained unknown.

 

 

February: Seven people kidnapped

 

• February 10: an armed gang kidnapped a civilian known by his initials as N. M. in front of his house near the industrial area in Al-Suwaidaa city and asked his family to pay a ransom. The man was released five days after being kidnapped.

 

• February 12: a child known by his initials as S. A. was kidnapped in front of his house in Al-Suwaidaa city. The boy was released a few hours later.

 

• February 15: a civilian known by his initials as J. S. was kidnapped in Al-Suwaidaa city, after he came from Damascus. A few days after the man’s disappearance, unknown individuals claimed responsibility of kidnapping the man and communicated with his family, asking them to pay a ransom for his release.

 

• February 17: an armed gang kidnapped a civilian known by his initials as H. N., after blocking him while he was leaving his work place in the industrial area in Al-Suwaidaa city. The gang later communicated with the man’s family and asked for a ransom.

 

• February 23: unknown gunmen kidnapped a civilian known by his initials as F. S. in front of his house on the road to al-Raha in Al-Suwaidaa.

 

• February 28: Two farmers known by their initials as H. N. and J. A. were kidnapped while they were working in their farmlands in the west of Ara town in the south-west of Al-Suwaidaa. The two farmers were released under pressure exerted by the Fifth Corps in Daraa on the kidnappers.

 

 

March: Eight people kidnapped

 

• March 11: a civilian known by his initials as M. A. a guard from Al-Suwaidaa was kidnapped by an armed gang during his shift near a water well in Al-Dara village in western Al-Suwaidaa. The kidnappers took the man to Nahteh village in eastern Daraa and asked his family to pay a ransom in return for releasing him.

 

• March 13: two civilians known by their initials as A. A. and A. Z. from Daraa were kidnapped by an armed gang, while they were in the western countryside of Al-Suwaidaa as a response to kidnapping a civilian from Daraa province.

 

• March 21: two civilians known by their initials as M. A. and A. A. from Hama province were kidnapped by unknown gunmen who also hijacked the car the two civilians were traveling in, near al-Shahbaa city in northern Al-Suwaidaa. The kidnappers also asked the two civilians’ relatives to pay a ransom.

 

• March 25: Two civilians known by their initials as H. F. and L. A. from Al-Suwaidaa were kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Homs countryside, near the Syria-Lebanon border, while they were attempting to cross into Lebanon. The two men were released later after their relatives paid a ransom.

 

• March 29: a civilian known by his initials as J. A. was kidnapped by unknown gunmen near Salkhad city to the south of Al-Suwaidaa for unknown reasons.

 

 

April: Five people kidnapped

 

• April 14: a university student known by his initials as A. K. from Damascus was kidnapped by unknown gunmen, while he was returning from Shahbaa city in northern Al-Suwaidaa. The kidnappers asked for ransom in return for releasing the student.

 

• April 15: two civilians known by their initials as M. A. and A. A. from Damascus were kidnapped at the entrance of Shahbaa city near Um al-Zaytoun village in the northern countryside of Al-Suwaidaa. The two men were released after their relatives paid a ransom.

 

• April 29: a civilian known by his initials as S. A. was kidnapped, while he was passing in east Daraa countryside as a response to kidnapping of a man in Al-Suwaidaa province. The man was released later.

 

• April 30: a civilian known by his initials as W. A. from Deir Ezzor was kidnapped, after unknown gunmen blocked him near al-Amaran roundabout in Al-Suwaidaa city. The kidnappers later communicated with the civilian’s family, asking for a ransom.

 

 

May: Three civilians kidnapped

 

• May 19: gunmen of a regime-backed armed group stormed the headquarters of “Al-Qademous” company in Al-Suwaidaa city where they opened fire indiscriminately and drove an employee known by his initials as W. F. to the courthouse by force, before they released him later.

 

• May 27: a civilian known by his initials as M. S. was kidnapped for unknown reasons by unknown gunmen on Damascus-Al-Suwaidaa highway, while he was returning to Al-Suwaidaa.

 

• May 31: a civilian known by his initials as N. S. was kidnapped from his house in Al-Suwaidaa city by unknown individuals who asked for a ransom.

 

 

June: Two children among 11 civilians kidnapped

 

• June 7: a civilian known by his initials as M. K. from Al-Suwaidaa city was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in full view of passersby, after a chase near Al-Suwaidaa National Hospital. The man was released a day later.

 

• June 7: Two young men and a child from al-Zahraa area in Aleppo countryside, who were trading in honey, were kidnapped near al-Basel roundabout at the entrance of Al-Suwaidaa city. The three people, a young man known as H. M., another young man known as Z. A. and his son, were released after paying a ransom.

 

• June 7: a civilian known by his initials as A. K. from Aleppo province was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in front of his house in the industrial area in Al-Suwaidaa city, while he was heading to work. The man was released after paying a ransom.

 

• June 12: a civilian known by his initials as F. A. from Damascus was kidnapped by unknown gunmen. The man was released after paying a ransom.

 

• June 17: a civilian known by his initials as A. A. from the north-eastern countryside of Al-Suwaidaa was kidnapped by unknown gunmen who also hijacked his vehicle which was transporting milk packages. The man was released after paying a ransom.

 

• June 24: Two civilians known by their initials as N. H. and T. A. from Al-Suwaidaa were kidnapped by gunmen in Bosr al-Harir town in Daraa countryside, while they were heading to work. The kidnappers aimed to exert pressure to disclose the fate of another young man kidnapped in Al-Suwaidaa city.

 

• June 29: a civilian known by his initials as R. A. was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in his work place in Al-Suwaidaa city. The man was released after paying a ransom.

 

• June 29: a civilian known by his initials as M. A. from Damascus was kidnapped by unknown gunmen near the Department of Real Estate Affairs. The man was released after mediations by some families.

 

 

July: A child among six civilians kidnapped

 

• July 1: a civilian known as M. K. and a child known as W. A. were kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Al-Suwaidaa-Damascus highway, near al-Sayyaf petrol station. The kidnappers also took a herd of cattle that was with the man and the child.

 

• July 2: a civilian known by his initials as B. A. was kidnapped by unknown gunmen near al-Tha’lah laboratories in western Al-Suwaidaa, while he was returning from east Daraa countryside. The kidnappers stole money in possession of the victim and hijacked his private car, before they released him.

 

• July 6: an old man known by his initials as J. A. was kidnapped by unknown gunmen before his family in Al-Suwaidaa city. The man was released after paying a ransom.

 

• July 13: a civilian known by his initials as A. Q. from Aleppo province was kidnapped by unknown gunmen. The man was released after paying a ransom.

 

• July 18: a civilian known by his initials as M. A. from Al-Suwaidaa city was kidnapped by unknown gunmen. The man was released after pressure exerted by local factions on the kidnappers.

 

 

August: Eight civilians kidnapped

 

• August 1: a civilian known by his initials as M. A. was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Zahr al-Jabal area in the east of Al-Suwaidaa city. The kidnappers also hijacked the civilian’s car and asked for a ransom in return for releasing him. It is worth noting that local factions set the civilian free and arrested the kidnappers.

 

• August 7: a civilian known by his initials as M. K. from Hama province was kidnapped by unknown gunmen, after he came to Al-Suwaidaa province for business. The man was released after pressure exerted by local factions on the kidnappers.

 

• August 7: a civilian known by his initials as B. T. from Al-Suwaidaa was kidnapped by unknown gunmen near al-Karaktown in the eastern countryside of Daraa. The man was released a week later, after paying a ransom.

 

• August 20: two civilians known by their initials as M. K. and S. A. from Al-Suwaidaa were kidnapped by an armed gang in al-Mazra’a town. The gang killed one of the two men and released the other, while the reasons behind this crime remained unknown.

 

• August 23: a civilian known by his initials as M. S. from Atil town in northern Al-Suwaidaa was kidnapped by an armed gang which communicated with his family and asked for a ransom. The man was released after paying the ransom.

 

• August 23: a civilian known by his initials as M. K. from Damascus was kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Damascus-Al-Suwaidaa highway. The man was released, after the kidnappers stole his money and his car.

 

• August 24: a civilian known by his initials as M. K. from Al-Jininah village in north-eastern Al-Suwaidaa was kidnapped from his house by an armed gang for unknown reasons.

 

 

September: Two civilians kidnapped

 

• September 10: a civilian known by his initials as S. S. was kidnapped by unknown gunmen near Rassas town to the west of Al-Suwaidaa city and hijacked the car he was working on. The man was released after paying a ransom.

 

• September 20: a 55-year-old civilian known by his initials as Y. A. from Al-Suwaidaa city was kidnapped by unknown gunmen. The man was released after paying a ransom.

 

 

October: Seven civilians kidnapped

 

• October 4: a lawyer known by his initials as Z. T. was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in front of his house in Al-Suwaidaa city. The man was released after paying a large ransom.

 

• October 9: a civilian known by his initials as M. A. was kidnapped by unknown gunmen, while he was in his farmland in the west of Ara town, before he was released later.

 

• October 10: the manager of Construction and Development Foundation in Al-Suwaidaa city who is known by his initials as Y. A. was kidnapped by unknown gunmen while he was returning to his house. The man was released after paying a ransom.

 

• October 13: a civilian known by his initials as M. A. was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in northern Al-Suwaidaa, while he was traveling from Damascus to Um Walad village in eastern countryside of Daraa, before he was released later.

 

• October 16: a civilian known by his initials as S. J. from Aleppo province was kidnapped by unknown gunmen near the Al-Suwaidaa city’s prison. The kidnappers asked for a ransom.

 

• October 27: two civilians known by their initials as M. A. and I. I. were kidnapped by unknown gunmen in al-Ghariyah al-Gharbiyyah village in eastern Daraa, where they were bringing a motorcycle.

 

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has been all along warning against the repercussions of security chaos and the alarming prevalence of armed gangs, which force many Syrians to flee to other countries, especially since Syrian regime, the dominating power in Syria, could not care less about the people of Syria. On the contrary, the regime arms gangs in areas under its control, threatening the safety and lives of innocent civilians.