Latakia child abduction sparks school strike, outrage
3 Min Read
The kidnapping of a young boy outside his school in Latakia has triggered widespread anger, a school strike, and renewed fears over Syria’s deteriorating security.
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A silent vigil was held outside Jamal Dawoud School in Latakia, where parents raised photos of Mohammad Qais Haidar, the child who was abducted on Tuesday in front of his school (X)
The abduction of a young boy outside his school in the coastal city of Latakia on Wednesday has triggered nationwide outrage and condemnation, after four armed men kidnapped the child in broad daylight and in full view of his classmates, an incident described as unprecedented in the province since the start of the school year.
The victim, Mohammad Qais Haidar, belongs to a prominent local family. His father is a university professor and his mother a schoolteacher, factors that have deepened the shock and dismay within educational and social circles. The kidnapping occurred in an area presumed to be secure, under the watch of security forces typically stationed around schools.
The brazen act has reignited a wider debate over the capacity of Syria’s security agencies to protect civilians, particularly children, amid the growing proliferation of unregulated weapons and the rise of armed groups operating with impunity. Observers warn that the erosion of state authority and the failure to prosecute offenders have emboldened such criminal elements, while the silence of official institutions has only fueled public frustration.
وقفة احتجاجية من أمام مدرسة جمال داوود في اللاذقية / المشروع العاشر
— Zein (@Veritas30000) October 9, 2025
محمد قيس حيدر قرّة عين كل شريف#ما_بحك_جلدك_إلا_ضفرك pic.twitter.com/h1iIz3WaOy
Coinciding with the abduction was the killing of a schoolteacher in Homs province, who was shot while on her way to work.
The two incidents have heightened fears among educators and parents alike, prompting several schools to suspend classes. Teachers' unions and parent associations have since called for a strike and urged families to keep children at home until meaningful security measures are implemented.
⛔ #سوريا #اللاذقية#إضراب الطلاب والمعلمين في مدرسة الشهيد جمال داوود في اللاذقية. تجمع الطلاب والمعلمين امام المدرسة في وقفة احتجاجية رفعوا لافتات يطالبون بها الإفراج عن الطفل:#محمد_قيس_حيدر
— Dr. Nidal Al-Aboud (@AlaboudNidal) October 9, 2025
الذي تم اختطافه البارحة من امام المدرسة، وكذلك القبض على قتلة المعلمة:#ليال_غريب. pic.twitter.com/T67ck8XHrM
In an official statement, Syria’s Ministry of Interior claimed it was “closely following” the case of Mohammad Qais Haidar’s abduction, which took place outside Jamal Dawoud School on Wednesday morning. The Ministry confirmed it had instructed relevant authorities to “act immediately, launch an investigation, and collect all necessary information to identify the perpetrators.”
Wider context
Public reaction has been swift and intense. Activists and citizens took to social media to denounce what they described as a “catastrophic security failure” and the “normalization of lawlessness.” Local sources also reported that some educational authorities responded to the strike by threatening students with academic penalties for non-attendance, a move widely condemned by parents as “detached from reality” and “disrespectful to families’ legitimate concerns for their children’s safety.”
Thursday’s strike, organized by grassroots groups, succeeded in drawing national attention to the worsening security conditions. In response, local authorities pledged to locate the abducted child and bring those responsible to justice. Additional security checkpoints were also set up around several schools in Latakia.
#محمد_قيس_حيدر https://t.co/8Y1eB7ncuq pic.twitter.com/LBCxmYOkDa
— Sally Obeid (@SallyObeid) October 9, 2025
As search efforts continue under a veil of official silence, public calls are growing louder for the restoration of the rule of law, the disarmament of non-state actors, and the reestablishment of public trust in state security institutions; entities many Syrians say should protect, not endanger, their lives.
These recurring incidents, particularly in Latakia and other once-stable regions, underscore the depth of Syria’s ongoing social and security crisis under Ahmad al-Sharaa's government. The collapse of effective law enforcement, the fragmentation of power, and the unchecked spread of arms among militias and individuals outside state control have transformed entire communities into zones of fear and uncertainty.
Read more: Iraq warns of violence in Syria, calls for protection of civilians
