At least 53 individuals have been tortured to death under arrest by various parties in Syria since the beginning of 2023, according to a recent report by North Press Agency’s Monitoring and Documentation Department.
The Syrian government has been found responsible for the tortured deaths of 12 individuals, which included a soldier. Meanwhile, the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, known as the Syrian National Army (SNA), have been held accountable for the deaths of three individuals subjected to torture, and an additional three individuals were killed under torture by Turkish forces.
The extremist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) was reported to have been involved in the killings of 22 people using torture practices, with at least three of the victims being women. Furthermore, one person lost their life under torture at the hands of Iranian-backed militias.
In addition to these identified parties, the report also documents that 12 further individuals, including three children and three women, died after being abducted by unknown perpetrators and subjected to torture. The lack of information surrounding these cases raises concerns about the prevalent use of inhumane practices by various factions operating across the region.
The release of the report coincides with the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, observed annually on 26 June.
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, underscored the importance of this day as an opportunity to unite in support of victims of torture worldwide. Guterres called upon all stakeholders, including UN Member States, civil society organisations, and individuals across the globe, to join forces in advocating for justice and raising awareness about the devastating impact of torture.
