Rights group warns of systematic abductions of Kurds across Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – A documentation center warned on Saturday of a sharp escalation in kidnappings and arbitrary arrests targeting Kurdish civilians across Syria, describing the practices as “systematic and organized” violations based on ethnic background.
Since early September 2025, at least 14 Kurdish civilians have been abducted in Afrin, Aleppo, Damascus, and at checkpoints connecting different governorates, according to figures released by the Violations Documentation Center in Northern Syria (VDC-NSY).
Afrin, under Turkish control since 2018 and dominated by factions of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), recorded the highest number of incidents, VDC-NSY reported.
It said that armed groups frequently storm homes, break doors, loot belongings, and detain residents without warrants or judicial orders.
Other cases occur at checkpoints or on public roads, with families left without information about the fate or whereabouts of their relatives.
Documented figures show that between January and August 2025, at least 190 Kurdish civilians were kidnapped, including two minors, nine women, and 56 people with chronic illnesses, 31 of whom are in critical condition and require urgent medical care.
The VDC-NSY noted that the real number may be higher, as some families refrain from reporting cases for security reasons.
Investigators stressed that none of the detentions were backed by court orders, making them grave violations of Syrian law and international human rights standards. Families also lose contact with detainees immediately after their abduction, with no updates on their condition.
The center held the international community and human rights organizations responsible for pressing to end these practices, ensure accountability, and uncover the fate of the missing.