Information Note – Preliminary Assessment

From: Dr. Yahya Al-Amouri
Diplomatic Commissioner, International Human Rights Commission
Syrian Arab Republic

Acting within the mandate of the International Human Rights Commission and in accordance with the principles of neutrality, independence, and respect for human dignity, I hereby submit a preliminary technical information note concerning allegations of serious violations against persons deprived of liberty at Al-Tabqa Central Prison, in the context of the ongoing non-international armed conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic.

The information currently available to the Commission includes open-source materials, preliminary field reports, and visual documentation received from external sources. At the time of preparation, the Commission has not been granted direct, independent, or unhindered access to the facility, nor has any forensic examination been conducted under international standards.

Preliminary review of the materials indicates the presence of deceased individuals within detention spaces and adjacent areas of the facility. Some individuals appear to have been dressed in civilian clothing. Certain visible injuries observed in the materials may, at a preliminary level, be consistent with the effects of firearm-related violence. However, it must be emphasized that no definitive conclusions can be drawn at this stage regarding the precise cause of death, the timing of the events, the identity of those responsible, or the sequence of events that occurred prior to or during the withdrawal of forces previously controlling the site.

Public statements issued by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic attributing responsibility for the incident to the Syrian Democratic Forces are duly noted as the position of a party to the conflict. Such statements, in themselves, do not constitute independent or conclusive evidence and require verification through impartial and internationally recognized mechanisms.

From a legal standpoint, should it be established through credible, independent investigation that persons deprived of liberty were unlawfully killed, or that civilians not taking direct part in hostilities lost their lives, such acts could constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Any assessment of individual or command responsibility must be determined exclusively through a thorough, independent, and impartial judicial process conducted in accordance with international standards.

The seriousness of the allegations and the nature of the information reviewed meet the threshold of initial credibility sufficient to warrant the activation of an independent international investigative mechanism. Continued absence of independent access to the site raises significant concerns regarding the potential loss, deterioration, or manipulation of material evidence.

Accordingly, it is recommended that:

• an independent and impartial international investigative mechanism be established or activated with full and unhindered access to Al-Tabqa Central Prison;
• immediate measures be taken to preserve all potential evidence, including detention records, administrative documentation, and any burial or recovery sites;
• the authority that exercised control over the facility prior to withdrawal provide detainee registers, transfer or release orders, and relevant information concerning the chain of command during the relevant period;
• witnesses and affected persons be afforded protection in line with applicable United Nations standards.

This information note constitutes a preliminary technical assessment only. It does not prejudge the outcome of any future investigation, nor does it assign guilt. The Commission reaffirms its commitment to the principles of the presumption of innocence, do no harm, and the protection of human dignity.

Dr. Yahya Al-Amouri
Diplomatic Commissioner
International Human Rights Commission
Syrian Arab Republic

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