The Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) condemns the death of Mohammad Ghamira as a result of torture at Al-Haffa Police Station. It also expresses its grave concern over continued use of torture and other forms of inhuman treatment in Syria. SCM calls on the Syrian transitional authorities to ensure a prompt, independent, impartial, and effective investigation into the circumstances of his detention, torture, and death, and to hold all those responsible for the violation accountable, and to take the necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such violations.
While the Ministry of Interior’s decision to establish a committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mohammad Ghamira’s death is a positive step, SCM stresses that the credibility and effectiveness of the investigation depend on its independence and impartiality, particularly from the institutions and individuals potentially implicated in the violation. Given that the police station under investigation falls under the authority of the Ministry of Interior, SCM considers it necessary for the investigative committee to include independent members from outside the Ministry, including a representative of the judiciary appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council. This is essential to avoid conflicts of interest and any potential interference with the conduct or findings of the investigation. The investigation should also be conducted transparently, its findings made public, and anyone found responsible referred to the competent judicial authorities.
SCM also calls for the temporary suspension from duty of all police station personnel suspected of involvement in the violation until the investigation is concluded, and for the necessary measures to preserve all relevant evidence, including detention and interrogation records, duty rosters, and available recordings. Witnesses, detainees, and personnel working at the place of detention should be interviewed, and an independent forensic examination should be conducted to determine the cause of death and document signs of torture or ill-treatment. The investigation should establish responsibility for the violation at all levels and should not be limited to direct responsibility. It should include anyone who ordered, participated in, concealed, or failed to prevent the torture despite having the ability to do so.
SCM emphasizes that the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment is absolute and cannot be justified under any circumstances. Torture is a serious standalone international crime, and cannot be reduced to individual misconduct or a mere disciplinary offence. Torture is also explicitly criminalized under Syrian law pursuant to Law No. 16 of 2022, under which the penalty may reach the death penalty when torture results in the death of a person.
In this context, SCM stresses that the authorities’ duty is not limited to investigation and accountability after torture has occurred. It extends, first and foremost, to taking all necessary legal, institutional, and practical measures to prevent torture and to ensure the protection of all persons deprived of their liberty from torture and ill-treatment. SCM also stresses that the gravity of torture must not be reduced to cases resulting in death. Many cases of torture and ill-treatment do not receive the same level of attention when they do not result in the victim’s death, despite constituting grave violations in their own right.
In a statement issued on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on 26 June 2026, SCM had warned of the continued use of torture and ill-treatment in Syria following the fall of the regime. From the fall of the regime until the date of that statement, SCM documented 25 cases of torture and ill-treatment committed by the Syrian transitional authorities or entities affiliated with them, including nine deaths under torture. In its statement, SCM called for the completion, adoption, and implementation of the National Strategy to Combat Torture, and for the establishment of an effective preventive system designed to prevent torture and ill-treatment in the first place. This includes ensuring that all places of detention are subject to independent and regular monitoring, strengthening effective judicial oversight of detention, guaranteeing detainees’ right to access a lawyer and receive medical care from the earliest moments of detention, and establishing safe and effective mechanisms for reporting torture and ill-treatment.
SCM further stressed the need to qualify and train law enforcement personnel, security services, and staff working in places of detention on the absolute prohibition of torture, the rights of persons deprived of their liberty, and lawful interrogation methods. Such training must be accompanied by clear institutional procedures for oversight and accountability. Combating torture does not begin after a violation has occurred; rather, it requires building a detention and law enforcement system that prevents torture, enables its early detection, and ensures effective investigation and accountability when it occurs.
The Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression’s statement issued on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on 26 June 2026 can be read at the following link:
