Rights Monitor Syria follows with grave concern the rapidly escalating security developments in the Sahl al-Ghab region in Hama Governorate, particularly in the village of Nab’ al-Tayyib, amidst rising tensions among local residents and growing fears of mass retaliatory attacks in the coming hours and days.
The platform also welcomes the announcement by the Syrian Ministry of Interior regarding the execution of a security operation that resulted in the arrest of one Amjad Youssef, the primary accused of committing the Tadamon neighborhood massacre in Damascus on April 16, 2013. The details of this massacre were documented in video footage, which displayed mass executions of dozens of civilian detainees. The platform emphasizes that holding those responsible for grave human rights violations accountable is a fundamental step toward achieving justice and preventing impunity.
Conversely, the platform expresses its deep concern regarding the escalation of inflammatory rhetoric and collective accusations against the residents of Nab’ al-Tayyib village, based on allegations related to harboring the accused. It asserts that imposing collective responsibility on any local community constitutes a clear violation of the principles of justice and human rights.
The platform also documents field information indicating that armed groups attempted to head toward Nab’ al-Tayyib village via the village of al-Rasif, before being blocked from accessing it by General Security forces. Information indicates that these groups subsequently returned to the areas of Shat-ha and Na’our Shat-ha, where they engaged in acts of vandalism, including the destruction of commercial shops and civilian vehicles, in addition to assaulting personnel at security checkpoints in the area.
The platform affirms that the current heavy security deployment in the Sahl al-Ghab region has contributed to preventing direct attacks on village residents; however, the risks persist in light of continued incitement and tension.
Information also indicates that security authorities arrested two of the sisters of the aforementioned Amjad Youssef, as well as his wife, in addition to a number of young men from the village. Some of them were subsequently released individually, while the fate of his family members remains unclear as of the time of this statement. The platform calls for ensuring respect for due process and the rights of detainees, and that arrest is not used as a tool for pressure or collective punishment.
Rights Monitor Syria emphasizes the following:
The necessity of protecting civilians in Sahl al-Ghab and preventing any acts of reprisal or collective punishment.
Ceasing the discourse of incitement and hatred on social media platforms.
Ensuring that security services adhere to the law and international standards during arrest operations.
Disclosing the fate of all detainees and ensuring their safety.
Holding accountable all those proven to be involved in acts of vandalism or assaults against civilians or property.
