A new harrowing abduction case has surfaced in Latakia Governorate, where Hala Nawras Ibrahim and her young child, Ali Khuzami, have returned to their family after disappearing for nearly three weeks. They went missing on 17 May, near the Hmeimim Bridge, while Hala was visiting her mother, who had suffered a stroke.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Hala was taken to hospital for treatment today, bearing signs of severe torture, alongside her child’s ill-treatment. Distressing images of Hala during her detention were circulated, prompting widespread anger among the public and human rights advocates.

Sources confirmed that Hala’s husband has been detained by the Damascus government for three months for unknown reasons. Hala reportedly wore a hijab to conceal her identity and evade security pursuit, after receiving prior threats. In a leaked audio recording sent to her family during her disappearance, one of the alleged abductors threatened:

“Do you want Hala, her son, or her husband? ‘Aqbalak and Al-Ka’bi—this will be your fate as well, by the Lord of the Ka’bah.”

Subsequent information indicates that Hala’s release was facilitated after a ransom payment was made via a figure linked to the Iskenderun Brigade, known as “the Sovereign Brigade”. The kidnappers compelled her to delete all posts related to the case, warning that they did not want to tarnish the reputation of “public security”.

This incident further underscores the escalating violations against women in Syria, amid insufficient legal safeguards and lax monitoring of security forces. The case raises growing concerns over the recurrence of similar incidents, given the ongoing security chaos and the rise in kidnapping, extortion, and murder.

Meanwhile, the fate of a sports trainer remains unknown after he was allegedly abducted on 24 May by unidentified gunmen who demanded a ransom of 40,000 US dollars. Rumours indicate that he has been subjected to torture, prompting his family to issue urgent appeals to uncover his whereabouts and end their ordeal.