All of the following eight young men live in Qamishli and are Syrian nationals, with the exception of one:
1. Oscan Munzer (اوسكان منذر), born in 1977, an anesthetist, was arrested at his home on 28 August 2008 by members of the security services.
2. Oscan Nidal (اوسكان نضال), born in 1972, an agricultural engineer, was arrested at his home on 2 September 2008 by members of security services in civilian clothes.
3. Khalaf Abdel Baki (خلف عبد الباقي) born in 1966, a salesman, was arrested on 2 September 2008 near his store located in the central market of Qamishli by members of the
security services.
4. Oscan Riyad (اوسكان رياض) born in 1974, a teacher, was arrested on 2 October 2008 in the building of his workplace by members of security services in civilian clothes. He was arrested for having conducted research into the cases of his two brothers who were arrested in August and September 2008.
5. Rasho Ali Kadar (راشو علي كادار), born in 1981, an entrepreneur, was arrested on 27 October 2008 at its home by members of security services in civilian clothes.
6. Rasho Bengin (راشو بنجين), born in 1979, a taxi driver, was arrested at his home on 27 October 2008 by members of security services in civilian clothes.
7. Rasho Lokman (راشو لقمان), born in 1972, residing in the village of Rasho near Qamishli is a farmer. Like many Kurds in Syria, he did not obtain Syrian nationality at birth. He disappeared on 1 November 2008 after having presented himself at the headquarters of security services in Qamishli; demanding, in exchange for himself, the release of his wife and mother who were taken hostage on October 27.
8. Oscan Kawa (اوسكان كاوا), born in 1974, a sports coach, was arrested at his home on 28 November 2008 by members of security services in civilian clothes.
These eight men are among 24 people arrested in the Qamishli region between August and November 2008 and whose futures still remains unknown. None have been arrested based on
judicial warrant.
On 1 September 2008, two Kurdish opposition party leaders, Talal Mohammad of the Wifaq party and Mashaal Tammo of the Future movement, who are known to have often criticized the Government, were arrested. These arrests have raised strong international condemnation.
According to observers, the disappearances of the above mentioned persons, as well as 16 others are tied to the arrest of the two political leaders.
The families of the disappeared have no internal remedy that allows them to know the destiny of their sons. Riyad Oscan who tried to do research into his brothers' cases, eventually disappeared. Lokman Rasho also disappeared when he went to the authorities to release his wife and mother who were taken hostage. The actions of the Working Group are the only way for these families to find their relatives.
Such reprisals bring fear to the families who suffer a similar fate; prevented from doing research to find out where their relatives are detained.
Alkarama asks WGEID to intervene with the Syrian authorities to release the detainees until they presented to justice. It must be remembered that Syria ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on 21 April 1969 and the Convention Against Torture on 19 August 2004.