Abu Ali: The Dark Side of Crimes Against Humanity in the Al-Tadamon District of Damascus
April 24, 2025, 11:32 am

Abu Ali: The Dark Side of Crimes Against Humanity in the Al-Tadamon District of Damascus

أبو علي: الوجه الآخر لجر.ا.ئم الإنسانية في حي التضامن الدمشقي

In the ongoing search for those responsible for crimes against humanity committed in the Al-Tadamon district of Damascus, the name Anwar bin Muhammad Shabani, known as "Abu Ali," emerges as one of the key security figures involved in these massacres, alongside the notorious war criminal Amjad Youssef.

Anwar Shabani occupies a pivotal position in the structure of these crimes, having served as the head of the Al-Tadamon security branch located at the Al-Bateekha roundabout, in addition to being the deputy head of the Al-Tadamon and Daff Al-Shawk sectors. These positions made him the highest security official responsible for all operations of arrest, torture, and field executions that occurred in the region during the bloodiest years between 2011 and 2017.

⛔️ Abu Ali: The Dark Partner of Amjad Youssef
The relationship between Anwar Shabani and Amjad Youssef is not limited to security coordination; it extends to close personal ties, as Abu Ali appears alongside Amjad in the famous photograph capturing the moments before a field massacre, suggesting he may be the "unknown gunman" whose identity remained undisclosed for some time. His name also appears in security payroll records immediately after Amjad Youssef, indicating a hierarchy and precise coordination between them.

⛔️ Death Paths: From Al-Tadamon to Al-Mujtahid
Anwar Shabani was also involved in transporting the bodies of detainees who died under torture on Nasreen Street to Al-Mujtahid Hospital, in collaboration with Aiham Youssef, Amjad's brother. He also served for a time as a security officer within the Al-Mujtahid Hospital branch, highlighting the dual roles he played in concealing evidence, facilitating crimes, and expanding the conspiracy network.

⛔️ Extortion and Abuse: An Endless Task
Anwar sustained several injuries during his security work, the most notable being a permanent deformity in his right hand from a bullet, yet he continued his work until the last moment before the regime's collapse, boasting of his title "of the area" due to his influence and authority. In recent months, he was assigned the task of field patrols from the Al-Bateekha roundabout to Old Zahra, where he used this role to extort locals and collect money through bribes and threats.

⛔️ Dark Future: Current Residence
Information suggests that Anwar Shabani is currently residing in Hama province, specifically in the city of Slahab, known for its security activity and the presence of many wanted individuals for similar crimes. His brother, Ahmad Shabani, worked as a sergeant in the Air Intelligence Service, indicating a family security background and a wide support network that protects Abu Ali from prosecution.

To this day, Anwar Shabani remains outside the realm of accountability, holding vital information about Amjad Youssef and the Al-Tadamon massacre, and brazenly resides in Hama.

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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).
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