Syrians have demonstrated this week demanding justice for the death of Mohammad Ghamira, a Syrian man who passed away in a hospital after reportedly being mistreated by security forces while in custody. This incident occurred less than two years after the new government pledged to put an end to the widespread arbitrary detentions and abuses that were prevalent during the previous regime.
Ghamira’s family informed the authorities that the 29-year-old, a father of two, suffered from hemophilia, a rare genetic condition affecting blood clotting. He was held in detention for three days, released on August 9, and immediately hospitalized, passing away a week later.
The death of Ghamira has become a critical test for Syria’s new government to demonstrate accountability following the fall of the long-standing Assad regime. His case has triggered peaceful protests across the country, shedding light on numerous reports of alleged mistreatment in detention centers since the new administration assumed power.
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 in the country’s transition period. He stressed that the true measure of progress lies in ensuring systemic accountability for cases like Ghamira’s, rather than selective justice.
Ghamira, a former White Helmets volunteer, was detained on suspicion of theft by the Latakia Internal Security Command. Despite his family’s warnings about his medical condition, he was reportedly subjected to physical abuse while in custody.
Following his release, Ghamira succumbed to complications from cerebral and gastrointestinal hemorrhaging at Latakia University Hospital. The Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management mourned his death, affirming the government’s commitment to upholding law and justice in the new Syria.
An investigation into Ghamira’s death led to the detention of seven Interior Ministry personnel for questioning. The inquiry revealed that a police interrogator had assaulted Ghamira despite being aware of his health condition. The interrogator is now facing prosecution, with disciplinary actions ongoing against other implicated police personnel.
Despite promises of accountability, rights groups have raised concerns about continued abuses in detention centers under the interim government. Calls for an independent and transparent investigation into Ghamira’s death, along with systemic reforms to prevent future mistreatment, have been echoed by advocacy groups and families of detainees affected by past atrocities.