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Arrest and Enforced Disappearance of Syrian Defector Officer Following His Return to Settle His Status
Syrian defector officer Ammar Ali Al-Othman, born in the Idlib countryside in 1973, has been arrested and forcibly disappeared for approximately eight months after returning to Syria and heading to the Directorate of Officers’ Affairs to regularize his legal status and return to service.
According to the available information, Al-Othman is being detained without being allowed to appoint a lawyer or being officially informed of the charges against him. At the same time, little information is available about his place of detention or the authority handling his case.
His family reported receiving an audio recording indicating that his case had been referred to the Ministry of Interior. Communication with him has been limited to a single visit during which his wife was allowed to check on him, amid serious difficulties preventing further visits or access to clear information about his condition.
Al-Othman’s case raises serious concerns about the fate of detainees whose cases are handled outside official judicial frameworks, particularly as his detention continues without a publicly known legal process or clearly stated charges.
This incident places direct responsibility on the security services and the relevant official authorities to guarantee Al-Othman’s safety, disclose his place of detention, and ensure his legal rights, including access to a lawyer and communication with his family. He should also be released unless charges against him are established through a fair and transparent trial.
