Terror shared by Syrian mothers amid rising kidnappings
Despite ousting former President Bashar al-Assad, Syrians are calling on the new authorities for more protection against a rising number of kidnappings, La Croix International reported on March 8th.
After creating the group that spearheaded the campaign to oust Bashar al-Assad and his regime, interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa vowed to avenge assault of Syrian civilians and to bring justice to the nation. But, when the new government took power, the firing police officials and other troops of the Assad dictatorship left the country with a security void that has failed to protect Syrian families.
Mona, whose name has been changed for safety concerns, spoke to reporters about how she experienced every mother’s worst nightmare. Last month, Mona’s two sons, Mohamed and Amjad, ages 25 and 26, were kidnapped by unknown men. Neither had ties to the former regime.
Mona, who has lived in the Akrama neighborhood of central Homs for 25 years, said her terror is shared by many. Syria has seen the rise of armed gangs with political and criminal motives spreading across the country and terrorising residents, especially Alawites. Nowadays, it’s almost impossible to go a day without hearing about a new kidnapping.
“I don’t want to speak,” Mona said, fearing retaliation.
“The two brothers were returning from work at a restaurant downtown. It was past midnight. The bus dropped them off at the entrance to the neighborhood. Their mother was watching for them from her balcony when she saw a white van pull up. The brothers seemed to exchange words with men inside before getting in. They were never seen alive again,” a neighbour explained.
The bodies of the young men were discovered five days later, around 50 kilometers away. They had both been shot in the head.
Since Assad’s downfall, the Civil Peace Group has documented 64 cases, including these murders and similar kidnappings.
“We estimate that around 100 kidnappings have occurred, but many families stay silent, hoping for a ransom demand. All communities are affected, though Alawites remain the primary targets,” the local NGO said.
Many people hold the Alawites, who ruled under the Assad family from 1971 until 2024, accountable for the atrocities of the previous government.
“In reality, only a small minority participated in the regime’s brutality,” said Mohammed, a local resident. “Most of us lived in fear.”
“At night, we don’t leave our neighbourhood anymore,” an employee at Homs’ industrial zone added.
La Croix International
