The cases of two young Syrians—Muhammad Gmeira and Abdel Salam Akko—have sparked widespread outrage following reports of a sharp deterioration in their health during or after detention. The cases have once again drawn attention to conditions in detention facilities, respect for detainees’ rights, and access to medical care in prisons and police stations. Citizens have demanded that the circumstances be established and that all those responsible for violations be held accountable.
According to Muhammad Gmeira’s family, the young man was summoned to a police station in the city of Al-Haffah, Latakia province, over a financial complaint. He suffered from hemophilia, a disorder affecting blood clotting. Relatives claim that he arrived at the station in stable condition and was able to speak, but that his condition sharply deteriorated several days later. The family also said he may have been beaten despite warnings about his serious illness. Gmeira was later transferred to Latakia University Hospital, where an examination revealed a brain hemorrhage.
According to the same account, the young man’s condition deteriorated further after three cardiac arrests. He remains unconscious in the intensive care unit. Latakia’s head of internal security, Brigadier General Abdel Aziz al-Ahmad, said the competent authorities were examining the case and the circumstances of the detention. He said a special commission had been formed to investigate the matter, and that legal measures would be taken against anyone whose guilt or abuse of authority was confirmed.
Abdel Salam Akko, 24, was released after spending approximately a year in Hama Central Prison. Syrian media reported that he had been detained in a case related to drug trafficking. According to published reports, he suffered from a serious chronic illness and was severely emaciated; he was taken several times for treatment and emergency care in the presence of relatives. The prosecution agreed to release him after his health deteriorated.
Both cases prompted intense discussion on social media. Journalists and human rights activists demanded that justice be restored, those responsible be held accountable, and violence against detainees be prevented. The Interior Ministry announced an official investigation, while representatives of the security and medical authorities visited Gmeira in hospital and said he had been provided with medication and the necessary treatment. Attention is now focused on the investigations’ findings: they are expected to show whether the violations were the actions of individual employees or evidence of deeper problems in the treatment of people in custody.
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What are the powers and actual role of the special commission formed to investigate Muhammad Gmeira’s case, and can it operate independently of the officers who worked at the Al-Haffah station? — A special commission usually gathers statements and documents, establishes the circumstances of what happened, and submits its findings to senior officials or the prosecution. Its actual independence, however, depends on its composition, powers, and chain of command. If it includes representatives of the same security agencies, its ability to investigate the actions of officers at the Al-Haffah station may be limited. An independent investigation requires access to detainees and case materials, witness protection, the ability to question police officers, and the mandatory transfer of evidence to the prosecution or a court.
How is medical care organized in Syrian prisons and police stations, and who is responsible for ensuring emergency treatment for detainees with illnesses such as hemophilia? — At a police station, primary responsibility lies with the facility’s management and the officers responsible for holding detainees; in a prison, it lies with the penitentiary administration and prison medical service. When a person’s life is at risk, they must call a qualified doctor, provide the necessary medication—including clotting factors for hemophilia—and immediately take the person to hospital if necessary. In practice, access to treatment in Syria is often hindered by shortages of medication, procedural violations, and the absence of independent medical oversight.
What judicial and oversight mechanisms in Syria allow relatives and human rights defenders to seek accountability for torture, negligence, or denial of medical care to detainees? — In formal terms, complaints may be filed with the prosecution, courts, and internal oversight bodies of the relevant security agency, as well as through lawyers and official statements by relatives. It is possible to request a medical examination, the registration of deaths or injuries, and an investigation into officials’ conduct. However, such mechanisms often fail to ensure an independent and effective investigation, particularly when the accused belong to influential agencies. Human rights defenders therefore usually also collect medical records, witness statements, and other evidence for international accountability mechanisms.
Full version: From prison to hospital: Gmeira and Akko cases spark anger in Syria—what happened?