The Syrian Civil Defense renewed calls Sunday for the immediate and unconditional release of Hamza al-Ammarin, the organization’s director in Daraa province, four months after armed groups abducted him in Sweida.
Al-Ammarin was reportedly seized on July 16 while carrying out a humanitarian mission to evacuate civilians and a United Nations team.
In a statement posted on its Telegram channel, the Civil Defense described the abduction as a “blatant violation” of international humanitarian law protecting aid workers.
“Four months have passed since his kidnapping,” the statement said. “Al-Ammarin dedicated his life to saving lives and was at the forefront of response teams under the most challenging conditions.” The organization said ongoing detention threatens the neutrality of humanitarian work and undermines international confidence in the protection of relief personnel.
The organization urged authorities to assume their legal and ethical responsibilities, determine al-Ammarin’s fate, and ensure his safety. It emphasized that the Civil Defense will continue efforts to protect volunteers and uphold their humanitarian mission in line with Syria’s international obligations on human rights and aid.
International law, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the 1977 Additional Protocols, requires the protection and neutrality of humanitarian workers during conflicts.
