Local sources in the city of Salhab in Hama Province, western Syria, have documented the arrest of Sheikh Issa al-Khair, one of the sheikhs of the Alawite community in the al-Ghab Plain, by members of the Public Security Forces affiliated with the interim authorities “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham,” in front of his home in the city without any formal charges being filed.
Sheikh al-Khair was detained on December 3, 2025, with his family being informed at the moment of arrest that the operation aimed to “ask some questions” and conduct an interrogation of unspecified nature, without clarifying the reasons for the detention or any possible charges.
Later, the sheikh was transferred to the al-Nahl Center in the Saqilibiyah area, without the authorities providing information regarding his legal status, the exact location of his detention, or the circumstances of his transfer.
Sheikh Issa al-Khair remains detained as of the preparation date of this report, in the absence of any official announcement specifying the reasons for his arrest or guaranteeing his legal rights, which raises serious concerns about the nature of the detention, the conditions of his confinement, and the procedures followed.
