Preparing your experience
A judge recounts how General Security personnel in Aleppo assaulted him during his on-call shift as a flagrante delicto judge — an attack that included beating, unlawful detention, and death threats.
PUBLISHED
May 25, 2025
READ TIME
3 min read
SOURCE
Dr. Ed Kh
Peace be upon you.
On the night of May 24, 2025, while serving as an on-call flagrante delicto judge, I received a call at approximately 11:50 PM from officers at the Al-Salheen police station informing me of a homicide, with the victim's body located at Aleppo University Hospital. I accompanied them in their patrol vehicle to the scene.
Upon arrival, a large crowd of the victim's relatives had gathered outside the hospital. I remained inside the police vehicle and asked the driver to instruct the accompanying officer to transfer the body to the forensic medical center and open the formal report there. I repeated this request three times with no response. I then stepped out and personally asked the officer to wait — he complied.
As I returned to the vehicle, an unknown man approached me and accused me of speaking disrespectfully to the officers. I calmly clarified that I had acted appropriately, but he responded with an insult — then slapped me across the face in front of everyone without warning. I instinctively reacted. At that point, a group of General Security personnel rushed at me, and their commander — whose identity I later confirmed — ordered them to throw me into the trunk of their vehicle alongside a detainee, as they shouted "Shabiha! Shabiha!"
Once inside the General Security branch at Al-Salheen:
I was then placed in solitary confinement.
At around 6:00 AM, the station commander returned carrying the same pipe. After torturing another prisoner in front of me, he opened my cell and beat me for approximately ten minutes with relentless insults.
I asked him to end my life with a bullet rather than continue the humiliation. He responded with an explicit threat:
"If you return to your post or file any complaint, I will have you eliminated outside this station. Tell Minister Mazhar Al-Wais that I will liquidate you within two days. I will eliminate the judges of the former regime one by one."
He then added: "You judges of the former regime will take orders from our officers — they are far more honorable than you."
At approximately 10:30 AM, the Attorney General of Aleppo and the First Investigative Judge arrived at the station. As I was being released, the commander kicked me once more and reminded me of his threats.
I proceeded to the Palace of Justice, where the Head of the Judiciary was visibly shocked by the extent of my bruises and injuries. He immediately contacted the Minister and informed him of the full account.
I thank all colleagues for their support. I apologize for not responding sooner — I was hospitalized.
As I write these words, individuals claiming to be from Political Security have appeared at my home. I have not opened the door, fearing what might follow.
