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Father of Missing Syrian Seeks Accountability for Those Responsible for His Son's Disappearance
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The refusal to accept the complaint reflects significant challenges facing the judicial reform process in Latakia areas, necessitating rapid intervention to ensure the independence of the judiciary an
Several police centers and the Public Prosecutor's Office in Latakia refused last Wednesday to receive a complaint from the father of the deceased Ahmad Zakaria against Fadi Malik Ahmad (known as "Fadi Saqr").
The father of the deceased Zakaria stated in an exclusive interview with the local Zaman Al-Wasl newspaper: "I first went to Al-Sheikh Daher police station, but they refused to accept the complaint under the pretext that the matter requires legal evidence that I could not provide. I didn't give up, so I moved to Al-Saleeba police station, but I faced the same position. And when I tried to submit a petition to the Public Prosecutor's Office, they asked me to prove that Fadi Saqr was the one who kidnapped and killed my son! Is it reasonable that I need to prove what is obvious?! All I ask is that the case be investigated, my son's fate determined, and the arrest of the National Defense commander, war criminal Fadi Saqr."
Ahmad Zakaria was arrested in Latakia in 2013, where he was forcibly disappeared by Fadi Saqr, and his photo later appeared in the National Defense records. His family subsequently confirmed that he died under torture.
The deceased's father provided media outlets with a copy of the complaint document, and Zaman Al-Wasl newspaper will later publish audio recordings and additional documentation of the complaint.
This case reflects the serious challenges facing the judicial system in Latakia, especially with the spread of cases of forced disappearance that occurred during the years of conflict.
Legal experts indicate that the refusal to accept the complaint contradicts the principles of transitional justice that Syrians aspire to, and emphasizes the need to adopt a system of governance that ensures the independence of the judicial authority in all governorates.
Ahmad Zakaria's case is one of thousands of cases of the forcibly disappeared in Syria, whose families are waiting to know their fate and hold those responsible for their disappearance accountable.
