214 arbitrary detentions in Syria in August, 13 were children: SNHR

There were at least 214 arbitrary detentions recorded in August in Syria, the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) said in a report, 13 of which were children and seven women. Of these, 173 have subsequently been classified as enforced disappearances.

The rate of arbitrary detentions by the Syrian regime have increased steadily since the start of the civil war in 2011, SNHR said, adding that about 73 per cent of all arbitrary detentions turn into enforced disappearances.

Some 88 per cent of all arbitrary arrests documented are committed by regime forces, the rights group said.

The regime also arrested 19 refugees who had been forcibly deported from Lebanon.

“The number of Syrian citizens classified as missing has skyrocketed, so much so that it can be called a phenomenon in itself. Indeed, Syria is one of the worst countries worldwide in terms of the numbers of ‘disappeared’ citizens,” it added.

Since the conflict began, SNHR explained, the Syrian regime has passed a multitude of laws and decrees, which help it arrest and interrogate civilians. Many of these “violate international human rights law.”

“The Syrian regime has weaponised its arsenal of laws through the use of exceptional courts, such as the Counterterrorism Court … whose main purpose is to eliminate political opponents and detain civilians.”

The report stresses that the number of arbitrary arrests far surpasses the number of releases from detention centres, adding that “at least two or three times as many people are detained as are released.”

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