51-year-old Zakaria Jabara was abducted in Qamishli on 2 February 2013 by the Military Security. Jabara was then taken to an unknown location and has not been seen since his arrest. On 10 August 2016, Alkarama and Human Rights Guardians sent his case to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID), in the hope that it will help shed light on his fate and whereabouts.
Jabara was taken from Al Hamam Street in his resident area of Qamishli by a patrol of the Military Intelligence Directorate – also known as "Military Security" – wearing civilian clothes. There was no warrant for his arrest and his family was never told where he was detained. Jabara was allegedly accused of "working in logistics with the Free Syrian Army" and "providing them with weapons". No other information was given to his family regarding a trial or a court order.
Since his disappearance, his family has relentlessly attempted to get information regarding his location; visiting multiple security services branches in Qamishli and Damascus. It was not until they went to the Military police in Al-Qaboun that they were informed he has died and were given his ID card but no death certificate. Until now, his corpse has not been handed over to his family.
"This situation is causing incommensurable suffering to the family," says Inès Osman, Legal Coordinator at Alkarama. "If Jabara is still alive, his family has the right to see him. If he died in detention, they should be informed of the circumstances of his death and allowed to bury him. A prompt and independent investigation should be opened and the perpetrators punished."
Due to the absence of response from the Syrian authorities on his case, the family has not been able to take further action. Therefore, Alkarama and Human Rights Guardians called upon the WGEID to request the Syrian authorities to disclose Jabara's fate.
For more information, please contact media@alkarama.org (Dir: +41 22 734 1008).