Citizen Ali Khazem Al-Darwish, a man belonging to the Alawite community, was killed following his abduction from his home in the village of Al-Rabia’a, located in the countryside of Hama Governorate. This incident falls within a series of acts of violence and killings witnessed by the governorate in recent days, amid indicators of an escalating targeting of civilians on sectarian grounds.
According to available information, an armed group stormed the home of Ali Khazem Al-Darwish, situated on the outskirts of Al-Rabia’a village, on the morning of June 9, 2026, and took him to an unknown destination. A few hours after his disappearance, his body was found at the junction of the neighboring village of Kafr Al-Tun, having passed away as a result of sustaining gunshot wounds.
Data received from the region indicates an increase in killings and targeting incidents affecting civilians from the Alawite community in various areas of the Hama countryside recently, spanning regions in the east, north, west, and south of the governorate. The nature and synchronization of these incidents raise concerns regarding the existence of an organized pattern of violence that may amount to collective targeting based on sectarian affiliation. This warrants an independent and transparent investigation to identify and hold those responsible accountable.
This incident occurs within a broader context of escalating violence targeting civilians across several Syrian regions, posing a grave threat to the right to life and personal security—both of which are rights guaranteed under international human rights law.
These incidents reinforce growing fears regarding the continuation of violations targeting civilians on sectarian grounds, and underscore the urgent need to adopt effective measures to protect the civilian population, ensure the conduct of independent and impartial investigations into all extrajudicial killings, and hold perpetrators accountable in accordance with international human rights standards.
