On Wednesday, 11 February 2026, the body of an elderly Kurdish man was discovered inside his home in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo city. He had been strangled to death and his home robbed by unknown perpetrators, in an incident that reflects the continuing state of lawlessness and the absence of justice and accountability in areas under the control of the Syrian Interim Authority forces.
According to available information, the victim was Mr. Mohammad Maamo, known as Abu Hussein, approximately 70 years old. His body was found inside his residence in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood after unidentified individuals forcibly entered the property, strangled him to death, and stole a sum of money along with several household belongings.
The victim originated from the town of Bulbul in the Afrin countryside and had worked for many years in the repair of household appliances. Preliminary information indicates that the motive of the crime was criminal in nature and related to theft. However, its occurrence within a volatile security context raises serious concerns regarding the protection of civilians, particularly members of the Kurdish community.
This crime comes amid an escalation of violations against Kurdish civilians in northern Syria, within a broader context of military operations carried out by the forces of the Syrian Interim Authority, represented by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, against predominantly Kurdish areas.
The operations reportedly began on 6 January 2026 with the targeting of the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods in Aleppo city, before control over these areas was established on 10 January 2026. Subsequently, the operations expanded to areas east of the Euphrates, particularly in Raqqa and the northern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, following the alignment of certain Arab tribes with the Interim Authority forces.
As military operations advanced, a rise in violations against civilians and their property was documented in predominantly Kurdish areas, including Kobani, the countryside of al-Hasakah, and the countryside of Qamishli. Recurrent reports indicate incidents of killing, theft, and assaults frequently attributed to “unknown perpetrators,” without the announcement of transparent investigation results or the accountability of those responsible.
The killing of Mr. Mohammad Maamo constitutes a grave violation of the right to life as guaranteed under international human rights law. It necessitates the opening of an independent and transparent investigation to clarify the circumstances of the crime, identify those responsible, and ensure their accountability in accordance with due legal process.
This incident further underscores the urgent need to adopt immediate measures to ensure the protection of civilians and to put an end to the prevailing climate of impunity, which contributes to the recurrence of such crimes and undermines confidence in the rule of law and judicial institutions.
