Suwayda’s National Guard denies detention link to two deaths
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The National Guard Forces in Suwayda said on Wednesday that the deaths of two detainees held in its facilities — Sheikh Maher Falhout and Sheikh Raed al-Matni — were not connected to the conditions of their detention, according to an official statement published by the force.
The two men were transferred separately on Tuesday to Suwayda National Hospital, two days after their arrest by the National Guard in the southern Syrian governorate. Their deaths prompted widespread local discussion and calls for clarification from their families and notables in the area.
In its statement, the National Guard said that “forensic medical reports proved that the first death resulted from taking a large dose of his medication prescribed for high blood pressure, while the second occurred due to a heart attack, and their deaths have no relation to the circumstances of detention.”
The force added that it had initiated internal measures after reports surfaced of mistreatment involving one of the detainees. “Regarding the abuse against one of those involved, the leadership of the National Guard affirms that it operates in accordance with laws and regulations,” the statement read. It added that “the two members involved in the incident have been detained, and firm measures will be taken against them.”
The National Guard also accused groups affiliated with the Syrian government of attempting to recruit local residents for intelligence purposes. At the beginning of its statement, it said that “groups belonging to the Syrian government recently recruited a number of agents inside [Suwayda], in exchange for personal gains and money.”
According to the statement, arrests in recent days were conducted based on “confirmed information,” and subsequent investigations “supported by documented confessions and evidence showed that the Damascus government, through direct meetings and digital communication, worked to form the initial nucleus of these agents to expand recruitment later.”