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Testimony of a Woman from the Masyaf Countryside: “General Security” Abducted, Tortured, and Sexually Assaulted Her
The “Syria Mirror” platform published the testimony of Hala Nourse Ibrahim, from the Masyaf countryside, who said she had been abducted, detained, tortured, and sexually assaulted after being stopped alongside her son, Ali, beneath the Hmeimim Bridge in the countryside of Jableh on May 17, 2025.
According to her testimony, three vehicles arrived at the scene carrying armed men whom she said were wearing the black uniforms of “General Security.” She explained that the men took her child to an unknown location, while she was taken elsewhere after being restrained, blindfolded, and gagged.
Nourse said she was held for 23 days in a dark room, during which she was allegedly beaten, tortured, and subjected to sectarian insults. She also stated that she was sexually assaulted by some of the individuals involved in her detention.
She added that a large number of armed men took turns entering the room. Some were allegedly wearing “General Security” uniforms, while others wore long garments and carried weapons and ammunition vests. She also said she could hear the voices of other girls being tortured at the same location.
### Separated from Her Child
Nourse said her captors told her that her son had died and instructed her to forget him, before bringing him back to her after a period of detention. She said she found him naked and unable to move or eat, explaining that she tried to feed him whatever was available—dry bread and water—and that he remained with her until the following morning.
According to her account, the men then pulled her child from her arms once again before restraining her, blindfolding her, and taking her to another location.
Nourse also accused her captors of attempting to force her to sign documents related to a marriage contract with one of them. She said she was beaten after refusing to sign or place her fingerprint on the documents. She further alleged that the perpetrators shaved her eyebrows, cut her hair, wounded her with blades, and subjected her to water torture.
### Release in Exchange for Money
Nourse said that after her release, she learned from her family members that she had been freed in exchange for a sum of money and on the condition that her family delete posts concerning her abduction. She added that her family had been told the posts had damaged the reputation of “General Security.”
The published report did not clarify which party had detained Nourse. It also made no reference to the opening of an official investigation or to any response from the Ministry of Interior or the “General Security” administration regarding the allegations contained in her testimony.
Nourse called on the families of girls who remain missing or detained not to remain silent, urging them to demand information about their fate and work toward securing their release. She also called on the families of survivors to provide them with psychological and social support, stressing that what happened to them was against their will and that they bear no responsibility for it.
