Syrian citizens demonstrated this week demanding justice for Mohammad Ghamira, a Syrian man who passed away in a hospital following alleged mistreatment by security forces while in custody. This incident occurred less than two years after the new government pledged to end the prevalent arbitrary detentions and abuse under the previous regime.
Ghamira’s family informed the police that the 29-year-old, a father of two, suffered from hemophilia, a genetic disorder affecting blood clotting. After three days of detention, he was released on August 9 and immediately hospitalized, where he passed away a week later.
The death of Ghamira has become a crucial test for Syria’s new administration to demonstrate its commitment to accountability post the fall of the longstanding Assad regime. His demise prompted peaceful demonstrations across the country, shedding light on other reported cases of mistreatment in detention facilities since the new government assumed power.
Fadel Abdulghany, the Executive Director of the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), emphasized the need for a comprehensive and judicially supervised system to govern detention practices in Syria’s transition period.
Ghamira, a former volunteer with the White Helmets, was detained by the Latakia Internal Security Command on suspicion of theft. Despite his family’s warnings about his medical condition, Ghamira was allegedly subjected to physical abuse during his custody, leading to his tragic death after his release from jail.
The Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management mourned Ghamira’s passing, emphasizing the government’s commitment to justice and the rule of law. The government announced an investigation into the incident, detaining seven Interior Ministry personnel for questioning.
The findings of the investigation revealed that Ghamira’s death resulted from a cerebral hemorrhage caused by physical assault during interrogation. The responsible police interrogator has been referred for prosecution, while disciplinary actions against other involved personnel are ongoing.
Rights groups, including Families for Freedom, have called for an independent and transparent probe into Ghamira’s death, stressing the importance of systemic reforms to prevent future abuses in detention centers. The persistence of mistreatment in such facilities has raised concerns among families of detainees and human rights organizations about accountability and the need for comprehensive reforms in Syria’s justice system.