Deaths and Forced Disappearances Pursue Syrians Fleeing Lebanon
Continued systematic violations against returnees reveal the Syrian regime's lack of seriousness in providing real guarantees for refugees, reinforcing fears of repeating the tragedy of former detaine
October 31, 2024, 5:27 pm

Deaths and Forced Disappearances Pursue Syrians Fleeing Lebanon

حواجز النظام السوري \ تعبيرية \ متداول

Human Rights Watch revealed in a report published today that Syrians fleeing violence in Lebanon face the risk of persecution and harassment by the Syrian regime upon their return, including forced disappearance, torture, and death in detention.

The ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon since late September 2024 have forced hundreds of thousands of Syrians to return to their country. The raids have resulted in approximately 2,710 casualties, including at least 207 Syrians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Based on the organization's monitoring, returning Syrians, particularly men, face the risk of arbitrary arrest and violations by Syrian regime apparatus.

The organization documented four cases of returnees being arrested during this period, while other human rights institutions, including the "Syrian Network for Human Rights," recorded dozens of additional cases.

The organization reported that at least two Syrian men died under mysterious circumstances in 2024 after being deported from Lebanon and Turkey to Syria in 2023 and detained by the Syrian regime since then, while two others remain forcibly disappeared since their handover to the regime in January and July, according to reliable sources.

The organization quoted Adam Coogle, deputy Middle East director, saying: "Syrians fleeing violence in Lebanon are being forced to return to Syria, even as Syria remains unsafe for safe or dignified return and in the absence of any meaningful reforms to address the root causes of displacement."

He continued: "The suspicious deaths of returnees in detention highlight the stark danger of arbitrary detention, violations, and persecution against those fleeing and the urgent need for effective monitoring of human rights violations in Syria."

The organization highlighted the Syrian regime and armed groups controlling areas in Syria continue to prevent humanitarian and human rights organizations from full and unrestricted access to all areas, including detention centers, which hampers documentation efforts and conceals the actual scale of violations.

According to the "Syrian Arab Red Crescent" statistics, about 440,000 people fled to Syria from Lebanon through official crossings between September 24 and October 22, 71% of them Syrians and 29% Lebanese, with others believed to have crossed irregularly.

Levant-Human Rights Watch

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”