Rights Monitor Syria has documented the abduction of 19-year-old Madeen Daniel Ismail, originating from the city of Jableh in Latakia Governorate and residing in the Jabal Al-Ruzz neighborhood in the city of Damascus. The incident occurred after he left his workplace at a restaurant in the Al-Rabweh area. The kidnappers demanded a monetary ransom of 25,000 USD from his family in exchange for his release, threatening to kill him if their demands were not met.
According to information obtained by the platform, the abduction took place in the early hours of Sunday, July 26, 2026, after the young man completed his shift at the Burj Al-Sultan Restaurant in the Al-Rabweh area and left for his residence in the Jabal Al-Ruzz neighborhood, before all contact with him was lost.
Sources reported that the kidnappers later contacted the victim’s family, demanding a payment of 25,000 USD for his release and threatening to directly execute him if the ransom was not paid.
Information indicates that the young man was working to support his family, who are suffering from difficult living and economic conditions, rendering them unable to provide the requested amount. This comes amidst appeals launched by his family to reveal his fate and for urgent intervention to ensure his release and secure his safety.
Rights Monitor Syria stresses that the continuation of kidnapping incidents for ransom constitutes a grave violation of the right to liberty and security of person, and raises growing concerns regarding the safety of civilians in various Syrian regions—particularly in light of the recurrence of such incidents targeting civilians during transit or upon returning from their workplaces. This necessitates serious investigations to hold those responsible accountable, ensure the protection of civilians, and disclose the fate of the abducted.
