Killings of Christian Citizen Fadi Abdo Al-Sha’er Following His Abduction in Rural Hama Amid Allegations of Targeting Based on His Former Affiliation with the National Defence Forces
Rights Monitor Syria has documented the killing of Christian citizen Fadi Abdo Al-Sha’er, originally from the town of Kfarbou (Kfarbohm) in the countryside of Hama Governorate. He was killed after being abducted alongside his daughter by an armed group, before his body was subsequently found with gunshot wounds. This incident raises concerns over the persistence of extrajudicial killings and targeting based on political backgrounds or prior affiliations with parties to the conflict.
According to information obtained by Rights Monitor Syria, an armed group abducted Fadi Abdo Al-Sha’er and his daughter on Wednesday, July 7, 2026. Sources reported that the group later released his daughter in the village of Al-Khuwayn, whereas the body of Fadi Abdo Al-Sha’er was subsequently found deceased as a result of sustaining gunshot wounds.
Pro-Syrian government pages circulated a narrative claiming that the reason for targeting Al-Sha’er stems from his previous affiliation with the National Defence Forces; however, those pages provided no evidence or information proving his commission of any crimes or legal violations.
This incident occurs within the context of escalating acts of violence and attacks that have recently targeted individuals and properties belonging to persons accused of affiliation with the former Syrian regime’s forces, locally known as “Shabiha,” or loyalty to the former Syrian regime in several Syrian regions.
Available information indicates a surge in hate speech and incitement across social media platforms, including the publication of personal information and photographs of individuals accused of loyalty to the former regime, alongside calls to track them down or expel them from their areas. This significantly heightens the risk of subjecting them to retaliatory attacks and extrajudicial killings.
These developments raise growing human rights concerns regarding the widening circle of civil violence amidst the absence of clear pathways for transitional justice and legal accountability, as well as the ongoing occurrence of violations targeting individuals on the basis of political or sectarian affiliations, or based on unproven allegations not subject to judicial procedures.
Furthermore, the principles of international human rights law affirm that the rights to life, personal security, and a fair trial are guaranteed to all individuals without discrimination, and that any allegations of crimes or violations must be subject to independent, impartial investigations and fair judicial proceedings that guarantee the rights of all parties.
Likewise, extrajudicial killings, retaliatory attacks, incitement to violence or hatred, and targeting based on political or sectarian identity constitute grave violations that mandate independent and effective investigations, as well as holding those responsible accountable in accordance with international human rights standards.
Rights Monitor Syria warns that the continuation of these practices without effective accountability may lead to deepening societal divisions, expanding the cycle of violence and revenge, and undermining opportunities for achieving justice, stability, and civil peace in Syria. It calls upon competent authorities to conduct an independent and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the abduction and killing of Fadi Abdo Al-Sha’er, identify those responsible for the crime, and hold them accountable in compliance with the law and international standards.
