Report: Syrian transitional authorities detain minorities, force Islamic rites

Key findings

A Christian Solidarity International report presented to the UN accuses the Syrian Transitional Government of arbitrarily detaining Christians and other minority groups, often for reasons that appear tied to ethnicity or religion. CSI alleges detainees have been coerced into Islamic practices, denied access to items and rituals of their own faith, and subjected to extortion by local officials. The group also says a post-conflict "settlement" approach used to reintegrate some former regime personnel has been applied unevenly, while thousands — including people exercising political rights or accused of corruption — remain detained without charge or trial.

The report highlights individual cases and wider patterns: former Sadad mayor Suleiman Khalil has been held since February 8, 2025, without counsel or family access, reportedly denied medical care and the ability to practice as a Syriac Orthodox Christian; merchant Milad al-Farkh allegedly died in custody after extortion demands; journalists Hassan Zaza and Noor Suleiman were briefly detained after reporting criticisms; and the disappearance of women such as Batoul Suleiman Alloush feeds wider fears of abduction and forced conversion. Damascus acknowledges detaining about 3,500 former regime military personnel, while the Institute for the Documentation of Human Rights Violations Against Religious Minorities in the Levant documents 131 missing women since January 2025 (112 Alawites), with at least 50 confirmed abductions and verified security-service involvement in some cases. CSI says these practices violate Syria’s constitution (Article 18) and international protections against arbitrary detention and denial of fair trial (UDHR Articles 9–11), as reported by Jerusalem Post