Kidnapping on rise in Syria’s Daraa amid unstable security
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – On Saturday, local sources told North Press that unknown people contacted relatives of Wissam Samih Dekhlallah after he was kidnapped on March 9 and demanded a ransom for his release.
“The gang,” as the sources called them, sent footage, showing marks of torture on the body of Dekhlallah and demanded a ransom of 25.000 USD in turn to release him.
Kidnapping in turn for ransoms has increased in Daraa amid the unstable security witnessed in the region since government forces took control and a settlement agreement was put into force in the summer of 2018.
In July 2018, the opposition armed faction and the government forces reached a ceasefire agreement mediated by Russia in the opposition-held areas in Daraa. Under the deal, the opposition armed factions agreed to hand over their heavy weapons in exchange for staying in Daraa, and those oppose the agreement would go to Idlib, which is under the control of the HTS.
The sources said that Dekhlallah holds the position of head of the Consumer Protection Division in Daraa’s Ration Directorate.
He was kidnapped while heading to his town Tasil in the western countryside of Daraa to spend the weekend with his family, the sources added.
Dekhlallah has lived in the Daraa city center for years.
No information has been obtained on whether his relatives managed to secure the required amount of money or if the security branches of the government forces has conducted any search operation so far.
Locals in Daraa told North Press that the security apparatuses affiliated with the government forces are responsible for the kidnappings.
They added that the government apparatuses have failed to pursue kidnapping gangs which are now known in every region and are constantly moving through the government military checkpoints.
Locals wonder how it is not possible to detect the location of the gangs through pursuing their phones while they always monitor activists who oppose the government all the time.
The Governorate of Daraa witnesses increasing security unrest. Last week, 15 killing cases were recorded in different areas of the governorate, and clashes took place between members of the Russian-backed Eighth Brigade and a group accused of dealing with drugs.