By Atoun Jan
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Government Communications Officer at the Ministry of Justice, Mohammad Samer al-Abd, said on Wednesday that they are “continuing efforts to address the alerts recorded in the detention and travel-ban system on Syrians, most of which date back to the past 14 years
He explained that millions of alerts have so far been removed, while work is still underway to resolve the remaining cases, according to state-run SANA agency
For decades, the former Syrian government maintained a vast network of “security alerts” (isharat amniya) that placed severe restrictions on millions of citizens, limiting their ability to travel abroad and exposing many to arbitrary arrest upon return.
Human rights organizations and testimonies from former detainees confirm that the alerts were issued by multiple intelligence branches without judicial oversight. Names were added to databases circulated among border points, airports, and government institutions.
Under this system, individuals attempting to leave Syria were frequently stopped at airports or land crossings. Many were informed only at the last moment that they were barred from travel. Others who had managed to leave the country faced arrest or interrogation upon their return.
The reasons for these alerts varied widely. Some were linked to political opposition activities, participation in protests, or association with dissident relatives. Others were imposed for administrative issues, such as unpaid military service, while many citizens reported being flagged without explanation.
Rights groups documented that those arrested under such alerts were often subjected to prolonged detention, interrogation, and in many cases torture, highlighting systemic human rights violations within the country’s security apparatus.
The travel restrictions also had social and economic consequences, preventing students from studying abroad, workers from taking jobs overseas, and families from reuniting. Activists stressed that the practice contributed to the displacement crisis by forcing many Syrians to leave the country illegally.
Although the scale of the system has diminished in recent years amid the ongoing conflict and international scrutiny, rights monitors say the legacy of the “security alerts” remains a central element of the government’s control over society.