Public anger mounts over torture of man till death in Damascus
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The death of Youssef al-Labbad inside the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus has ignited widespread anger across social media platforms, especially following controversial comments by the head of security forces and a public plea from al-Labbad’s wife demanding justice.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Interior, al-Labbad had entered the mosque on July 29 in a state of mental distress, “uttering incomprehensible phrases,” as captured by surveillance footage. Security personnel at the mosque reportedly tried to restrain him to prevent harm to himself or others.
However, al-Labbad’s wife contradicted this version of events in a Facebook post, saying, “To all competent authorities and General Security in particular: My husband was arrested at the Umayyad Mosque and died under torture at the hands of General Security.”
The claim triggered a wave of outrage online. One user, Ammar Abu Ras, commented, “As long as criminals remain in the ranks of security, nothing will change. Every member of these agencies should be scrutinized.”
Other a user named Muhammad called the story a fabrication, “This is all lies and staged drama.”
Damascus Attorney General Judge Hossam Khattab told state-run SANA news agency that legal action would be taken against any parties found responsible if criminal wrongdoing is confirmed, reaffirming the rule of law.
Minister of Justice Mazhar al-Awis also addressed the case on X, stating, “We affirm our commitment to holding everyone proven to be involved in this case accountable without any favoritism or leniency.”