Syria detains policeman over death of White Helmets rescuer hit in custody

Authorities were warned about dangers of hitting Mohammad Ghamira, who suffered from the rare medical condition haemophilia.Published On 20 Aug 2026A Syrian police officer has been arrested and may be criminally prosecuted after an investigation found that he hit a detainee with a medical condition who died shortly after being released from custody.Syria’s Interior Ministry said on Thursday that Mohammad Ghamira, 29, died after being slapped by police investigator Ahmad Jawad, who has since been detained and referred to the public prosecutor.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Lebanon hands former Syrian army general to Damascus after arrest warrantlist 2 of 3Netanyahu warns Israel will not tolerate Turkish military presence in Syrialist 3 of 3Syrian official says ‘no plans’ to establish Turkish military presenceend of listGhamira, who died on Sunday, suffered from haemophilia, a rare condition that prevents blood from clotting properly, making sufferers bleed more easily and for longer periods.The father of two was a member of the White Helmets, the civil defence organisation made up of volunteers that operated in rebel-held areas in Syria. They went on search and rescue operations and provided medical care following government attacks.The investigation found that Ghamira had told internal security personnel about his condition, while his wife twice informed authorities about the potential danger.Ahmad Latouf, head of the investigation committee and assistant interior minister for police affairs, confirmed that Ghamira died after suffering a brain haemorrhage believed to have been caused by the slap.Two other police officers are also being investigated but are not currently due to be prosecuted.Ghamira’s death has provoked widespread anger among Syrians, reminding many of the gross human rights abuses that were systematic under former President Bashar al-Assad, who was overthrown by rebels in December 2024.New leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has promised to usher in a new era, prioritising human rights and overseeing an inclusive government. However, human rights organisations have documented widespread abuses by government forces, particularly against minority groups.