Syrians have demonstrated this week demanding justice for Mohammad Ghamira, a Syrian man who passed away in a hospital after reported mistreatment by security forces while in custody. This incident occurred less than two years after the new government pledged to move away from the systematic arbitrary detentions and abuse that were prevalent under the previous regime.
The family of Ghamira informed the police that the 29-year-old, a father of two, had hemophilia, a rare genetic disorder affecting blood clotting. He was detained for three days before being released on August 9 and immediately taken to a hospital, where he died a week later.
Ghamira’s death is seen as a crucial test for Syria’s new government to demonstrate accountability following the fall of the long-standing Assad regime. The incident has triggered peaceful sit-ins and protests across the country, shedding light on reported mistreatment at detention centers under the new administration.
Fadel Abdulghany, the executive director of the Syrian Network for Human Rights, emphasized the need for a unified, judicially supervised system to govern detention practices and ensure accountability in cases like Ghamira’s.
Ghamira, a former volunteer with the White Helmets, was detained on suspicion of theft by the Latakia Internal Security Command. Despite the family’s warnings about his medical condition, Ghamira was allegedly mistreated while in custody and later died in a hospital after his release.
Syria’s Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management expressed condolences over Ghamira’s death, affirming the commitment to justice and the rule of law in the new Syria. The government has launched an investigation into the incident, detaining seven Interior Ministry personnel for questioning.
Rights groups and families of detainees from the Assad era have called for an independent and transparent investigation into Ghamira’s death, stressing the need for systemic reforms to prevent further abuses in detention centers.
Despite promises from the transitional government for accountability, reports indicate that abuses persist in detention facilities. Organizations tracking human rights abuses have highlighted ongoing practices of torture, beatings, and deaths in custody, urging authorities to take decisive action to address these violations.