The family of Jamal Shaheen Al-Mutni, a Syrian-American detainee, has announced his death after more than two years in the custody of Syrian security services. Al-Mutni, a septuagenarian, was abducted from his home in Suwayda on July 5, 2021, by an armed militia affiliated with military intelligence (Assad regime), which subsequently handed him over to the Damascus intelligence authorities.
A source from the Al-Mutni family confirmed the tragic news, stating that the family received credible information indicating Al-Mutni died during his detention. Due to the authorities’ refusal to release his body, an absentee prayer will be held on Thursday in Samara Square.
Al-Mutni’s family has been in the dark about his fate since his abduction. Despite their persistent efforts to uncover the charges against him and his whereabouts, the security services remained unresponsive. The last known information placed him in the notorious Sidnaya prison, a facility infamous for its brutal conditions and human rights abuses.
An American citizen, Al-Mutni had returned to Syria for a vacation shortly before his abduction. His family reported the incident to U.S. authorities multiple times, but only received assurances that the case would be pursued. Unfortunately, these promises did not translate into effective action, and Al-Mutni’s fate remained unchanged until the recent confirmation of his death.
This tragic incident underscores the ongoing human rights violations in Syria and highlights the peril faced by detainees in the country’s notorious prison system. The Al-Mutni family’s ordeal also reflects the broader struggle for justice and accountability in the face of the Assad regime’s oppressive tactics
