Violations mount against civilians in Homs countryside as 22 killed
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The Homs countryside witnesses a series of violations against civilians, particularly in areas inhabited by religious minorities, as locals demand action.
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Men accused of being part of militias or loyalist soldiers of the ousted president Bashar Assad are detained by members of the new security forces during an operation in Homs, Syria, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025 (AP)
Over the past three days, the Homs countryside has witnessed a series of severe violations targeting villages inhabited by Alawite, Shia, and Murshidi communities, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The Observatory reported that local armed groups have carried out field executions, arbitrary arrests, and attacks on religious symbols. These acts were accompanied by desecration of corpses and extrajudicial killings, described as part of retaliatory measures that left 22 people dead within 72 hours.
In response to the recent military campaign in the Homs countryside, the Community Peace Group issued a statement documenting the violations and acts of violence against civilians.
The group urged urgent action to achieve justice and peace through trust-building, respect for human rights, and transparent law enforcement. Expressing grave concern over the violations, the statement highlighted the devastating consequences of the recent security sweep in western Homs.
The group called on all concerned parties to immediately intervene to halt the abuses, revealing that the military campaign had resulted in civilian casualties, assaults, wrongful detentions, humiliation, and theft of property.
The statement condemned all violations against civilians, labeling them blatant breaches of law and human rights. It emphasized the need to hold perpetrators accountable and compensate affected individuals. The group also demanded immediate access for medical teams to provide care for the injured, the promotion of transparency, and the protection of Syrian dignity from future military actions.
Local sources from Homs reported that two women were killed and a young man was wounded earlier in the month after a group of individuals broke into their home and attacked them with knives.
The victims were identified as the sister and maternal aunt of Syrian artist Bahaa al-Yousef, while the injured man is his nephew. The artist confirmed the tragic incident through a post on his personal social media account.
The attack is part of a growing wave of violence in Homs, where recent weeks have seen a troubling surge in criminal activity, including murders, forced disappearances, and other violations. This alarming trend has raised concerns among local residents, already living in a climate of heightened tension.
Local reports indicate an escalating pattern of rights violations against minorities, further exacerbating fears in a city already plagued by instability.
