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

Syrian authorities have detained a police investigator, Ahmad Jawad, following the death of detainee Mohammad Ghamira, a White Helmets rescuer. Ghamira, who suffered from haemophilia, died on Sunday after being slapped by Jawad, an action believed to have caused a fatal brain hemorrhage. Authorities were reportedly warned about Ghamira's condition and the dangers of striking him, with his wife twice informing officials of the potential risk. The Interior Ministry confirmed Ghamira's death resulted from the slap, and Jawad has been referred to the public prosecutor. Two other officers are under investigation but not currently facing prosecution. Ghamira's death has sparked anger and raised concerns about human rights abuses in Syria.

Syrian White Helmets rescuer Mohammad Ghamira has died following an alleged police beating. This incident has triggered protests. The article does not specify when or where these events occurred, nor does it detail the specific reasons for the alleged beating or the protests. The primary focus is on the death of Ghamira and the subsequent public reaction.

Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of former Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad and a former regime figure, has been sentenced to death by the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus. The court found him guilty of crimes including premeditated murder and torture, which were classified as crimes against humanity and war crimes. This marks the first time an al-Assad family member has been sentenced in person. Wassim al-Assad was arrested in June 2025 upon his return from Lebanon and had been accused of overseeing Captagon production and smuggling. The ruling was issued on Tuesday.

Syria has launched an investigation into the death of Mohammed Gamira, a former White Helmet rescuer, who died in police custody in Latakia province. Gamira was reportedly held at the Haffeh police station for three days over a financial dispute before his health deteriorated and he was transferred to hospital. His family alleges that security officers ignored warnings about his hemophilia and subjected him to severe, continuous physical abuse, leading to catastrophic internal bleeding. This incident has sparked public outrage and calls for nationwide protests, highlighting ongoing challenges in establishing the rule of law in Syria. The Latakia Internal Security Command confirmed the investigation into the events at the police station.

The death of Mohammad Ghamira, a 29-year-old man with hemophilia, after his arrest and alleged beating by Syrian security forces has resurfaced concerns about torture and abuse in Syrian detention centers. Ghamira died from complications after being released from jail, with his former employer, the White Helmets, stating his condition resulted from a beating. While officials have promised an investigation and detained seven personnel, rights groups assert that abuses persist and are not isolated incidents. Reports from the UN and Syrians for Truth and Justice document widespread torture and ill-treatment in detention facilities across Syria, though not centrally organized like under the previous Assad regime. Families of detainees express distress over the perceived repetition of past abuses.