Published : 08-01-2020
The Violations Documentation Center in Syria (VDC) strongly condemned the recent abduction sweep launched by Syrian security forces against Palestinian students south of Damascus.
VDC expressed deep concern over projected torture scenarios to be perpetrated by the Syrian security forces against the arrestees, saying their detention is illegitimate and groundless.
In a statement issued on January 5, the rights center held the Syrian security devices responsible for the fate of the detained children and called for their immediate and unconditional release from custody.
VDC also urged the concerned international organizations, namely the Red Cross Organization, to take up their responsibilities in this regard, push for an urgent and independent probe into the mass arrest sweep, and pressurize the Syrian government to protect children in line with the Fourth Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the ensuing protocols of 1977 which state that children should be protected, particularly during armed conflicts.
Over the past few days, 56 Palestinian children were arrested by the Syrian security forces in Yalda town, south of Damascus, after schoolchildren from AlJarmak School tore a poster of the Syrian president.
An AGPS reporter said Syrian officers raided AlJarmak School and arrested 20 children. Another 36 schoolchildren were arrested from their homes. The arrestees are aged between 10 and 16.
Tension has been running high in the area. Civilians have appealed to all concerned parties to work on releasing their children at the soonest possible time over torture concerns.
Syrian authorities claimed the arrested children were affiliated with ISIS militias, which the families strongly denied. A boy who was released sometime later said the students were interrogated over alleged ties with ISIS.
Over 5,000 Palestinian refugees have been taking shelter in southern Damascus towns, where they continue to struggle for survival due to the price leap, steep rental fees, high unemployment rates, and security upheaval.
The Violations Documentation Center in Syria (VDC) strongly condemned the recent abduction sweep launched by Syrian security forces against Palestinian students south of Damascus.
VDC expressed deep concern over projected torture scenarios to be perpetrated by the Syrian security forces against the arrestees, saying their detention is illegitimate and groundless.
In a statement issued on January 5, the rights center held the Syrian security devices responsible for the fate of the detained children and called for their immediate and unconditional release from custody.
VDC also urged the concerned international organizations, namely the Red Cross Organization, to take up their responsibilities in this regard, push for an urgent and independent probe into the mass arrest sweep, and pressurize the Syrian government to protect children in line with the Fourth Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the ensuing protocols of 1977 which state that children should be protected, particularly during armed conflicts.
Over the past few days, 56 Palestinian children were arrested by the Syrian security forces in Yalda town, south of Damascus, after schoolchildren from AlJarmak School tore a poster of the Syrian president.
An AGPS reporter said Syrian officers raided AlJarmak School and arrested 20 children. Another 36 schoolchildren were arrested from their homes. The arrestees are aged between 10 and 16.
Tension has been running high in the area. Civilians have appealed to all concerned parties to work on releasing their children at the soonest possible time over torture concerns.
Syrian authorities claimed the arrested children were affiliated with ISIS militias, which the families strongly denied. A boy who was released sometime later said the students were interrogated over alleged ties with ISIS.
Over 5,000 Palestinian refugees have been taking shelter in southern Damascus towns, where they continue to struggle for survival due to the price leap, steep rental fees, high unemployment rates, and security upheaval.
