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1. Introduction

In the midst of the transformations occurring in Syria since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, significant challenges are emerging on the path toward establishing a state governed by the rule of law, one that protects rights and ensures justice for all. While military issues, including the matter of foreign fighters, and economic concerns dominate the current agenda, Syrian women and girls continue to suffer due to insufficient legal and social protections. They experience persistent patterns of gender-based violence, particularly in the form of so-called “honor” killings.

These crimes often occur in an environment of silence and complicity, highlighting significant weaknesses in prevention and accountability systems. They demonstrate how societal concepts such as “shame” and “reputation” can be manipulated to justify acts of violence and even murder, all without facing proper accountability. A particularly striking example of this is the Manbij massacre from last April. In this incident, a young woman was killed on camera by her brother, and there was no intervention or follow-up from judicial or security authorities.

This report documents several crimes in which women were killed by their male relatives in various regions of Syria in recent months, following the fall of the Assad regime. It analyzes shortcomings in the legal system, the complicity of societal structures, and weaknesses within the institutional response. Additionally, it offers urgent recommendations to the new Syrian transitional authorities, who are now responsible for taking serious steps to end impunity and ensure the protection of women and girls as a crucial part of the democratic transition process.

2. Manbij: A Crime Documented, Yet Unpunished

On 6 April 2025, a video circulated on social media showing a man shooting his helpless sister, Rahaf Alwan, as she pleaded for her life. Using a Kalashnikov rifle, he did not hesitate to pull the trigger. Tragically, Rahaf was the second victim from the same family to be killed within just a few days. Her sister, Maha, had already been murdered by their father, allegedly in an “honor” killing, after a drug-dealing group kidnapped both girls.

A witness close to the family confirmed during an interview that the family was aware of serious threats against the two girls.[1] These threats stemmed from a dispute between their brother and a gang involved in drug trafficking over the quantity and price of drugs. The witness stated that the gang kidnapped the two girls to exert pressure on the brother and continued,

“During the kidnapping, the family received threats to rape the two girls. I cannot confirm whether they were assaulted, but what is certain is that the family was aware of the kidnapping and the threats directed at them.”

The witness also revealed that the killer committed the crime himself, filmed it, and posted it online as a deliberate show of force and self-imposed punishment. She explained,

“What is painful is that the crime occurred in plain sight, without any intervention from security or judicial authorities. No official investigation was initiated, and the perpetrator was neither held accountable nor detained, despite the clarity of the crime and its audio and video documentation.”

The witness concluded that the family refrained from calling the police because one of their sons was involved in a dispute with the kidnappers. Furthermore, the extensive circulation of news about the kidnapping and threats in the neighborhood contributed to the family’s ongoing silence.

3. Recurring Crimes Highlight Protection Failures, Societal Complicity

The Manbij crime is not an isolated incident; it is part of a prolonged series of crimes committed against women and girls under the guise of “defending honor.” While these crimes may vary in specifics, they illustrate similar patterns that highlight a systemic failure in the protection system and the ongoing complicity of legal and societal structures.[2]

On 19 January 2025, news spread on social media about the murder of a young woman named Lilian Abu Sarhan, who her father reportedly killed in the As Suwayda Governorate. This shocking crime sparked widespread outrage both within and outside the governorate. In response, protests erupted, demanding accountability for the perpetrator and justice for the victim.

According to information documented by Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ), a father fatally stabbed his daughter, Lilian, inside their home in the village of Lubayn in western rural As Suwayda. When his wife tried to defend their daughter, he also stabbed her before fleeing the scene. The mother was taken to the hospital for treatment. The father’s whereabouts remained unknown for several days until he was arrested by the Lebanese General Security forces in the town of Aaiha, in the Rashaya District, on 31 January 2025.

In her testimony to STJ, a relative of the victim confirmed,

“Lilian’s father had been struggling with significant psychological and behavioral disorders for years. He attempted to harass her, but she resisted and screamed for help. When her mother intervened, he lost control, grabbed a kitchen knife, and fatally stabbed Lilian before also stabbing his wife.”

She added,

“We demand full justice for Lilian and assert that we must not tolerate such crimes, which are committed at home by the victims’ closest relatives and are met with societal silence.”

On 2 January 2025, a murder took place in al-Yarmouk Camp, Damascus, igniting widespread anger among the residents. A young man shot his fiancée, R.M., inside her family’s home, killing her instantly. He also wounded her mother before fleeing to an unknown location. Although the incident has been extensively shared on social media, no details have been released regarding the motive for the crime or the status of the investigation.

In another crime on 21 February 2025, a photo circulated of Safaa Rizqou, who was executed with two gunshots to the head near the Qatari camp in northern rural Aleppo by her brother and nephew. No statements were issued by security authorities in the area regarding the incident or the pursuit of the perpetrators, contributing to the obscuring of case details and keeping it shrouded in secrecy.

As of the time of writing this report, the murder of women by their husbands or relatives continues to occur and spread across various regions of Syria. Unfortunately, there are no effective institutional responses in place to stop this pattern of violence.

On 4 June 2025, Suwayda Media reported a tragic incident that occurred in front of the Palace of Justice building in the city of As Suwayda. A man from the village of Sahwet Blatah, located south of As Suwayda, shot his wife, Aseel Abu Assaf, the mother of their 7-year-old child, before taking his own life.

On the same day, a similar crime occurred in the village of Celemê, situated in the Jindires District of the Afrin countryside. A man fatally shot his wife, Jihan Mustafa Ayoub, while she was working in the farmland. He used a Kalashnikov rifle and then immediately took his own life. According to available information, the couple had six children.
Details concerning both crimes are still under investigation, and there have been no official updates on the motives or the status of the investigations as of the date of this report.

4. Fear of Scandal and Murder: A Force That Silences Women

In many instances, “honor” crimes do not begin with the violent act itself but rather with a series of prior violations that are kept secret. Victims often feel compelled to stay silent due to fear of stigma, societal pressure, and complicity from their families. Many women and girls endure sexual violence or threats but hesitate to report these incidents, fearing that doing so could lead to their own murder.

In a testimony documented by STJ, Mrs. A.A. from al-Hasakah recounted her experience of an attempted rape by one of her husband’s relatives. However, she did not feel safe filing an official complaint. She stated,

“I was about to report it, but I backed down out of fear of social stigma and the possibility that the man might harm my daughters. I was also afraid of how my husband would react if he found out.”

She added,

“The perpetrator still roams freely in the neighborhood, and I live in constant fear of being assaulted again, or of my daughters being harmed, or of retaliation.”

This testimony, among others, reveals how the pursuit of safety can devolve into a closed circle of fear; one where victims are compelled to remain silent not only to protect themselves but also to avoid an even harsher punishment: so-called “honor” killing. In such contexts, sexual assault is not viewed as a crime to be confronted, but rather as a source of shame directed at the victim, who is then left to face its consequences without protection or justice.

5. Prisons Opened, Justice Lost

With the fall of the regime on 8 December 2024, prisons were opened, and hundreds of detainees were released; an act widely welcomed as a long-awaited entitlement for political prisoners and dissidents who had been unjustly imprisoned and disappeared for years without clear charges or fair trials. However, this step, which was intended to uphold the principle of the rule of law, revealed serious flaws. Among those released were individuals convicted of serious criminal offenses, including so-called “honor” killings and sexual assaults, who were freed without undergoing proper legal accountability processes. This has renewed threats to survivors and victims and deepened the sense of insecurity and the persistence of impunity.

In As Suwayda, the women’s rights organization, Baladi, has documented the killing of five women in 2024 by their relatives under the pretext of “honor” killing. These crimes were carried out using brutal methods, including strangulation, throat slitting, and shooting. According to a Baladi organization worker, W.A., none of these crimes faced serious accountability, and their perpetrators remained at large, even after the fall of the regime.

In September of that same year, the murder of a young girl named Jalnar Azqoul by her father sparked a wave of outrage on social media and news websites. In an interview with STJ, W.A. recounted the crime that shocked public opinion,

“Jalnar lived in a cruel family, where she was subjected to constant violence by her father. After connecting with a young man online, she went out to meet him in a public park. On her way back, she unexpectedly saw her father on the street and fled in fear of his wrath. She called the young man and sought refuge at his family’s home, where she stayed for five days without her family’s knowledge.”

She continued,

“During that time, Jalnar became the target of a public incitement campaign from various segments of the local community. She was publicly stigmatized, and explicit calls were made to kill her and the young man. Despite this, the young man attempted to resolve the situation by going to her family’s home to propose to her. However, her father shot and killed him under the pretense of ‘cleansing the family’s honor.’”

Daraj Media reported the details surrounding the killing of the young man, stating that he was executed in the field while kneeling and showing signs of extreme exhaustion. According to the report, he confessed to kidnapping the girl, but his family later claimed that his confession was coerced through torture and duress, asserting that he had committed no crime. Clear signs of mistreatment were evident on his face at the time of his death.

The witness continued to recount the story, stating,

“Several days later, Jalnar left the young man’s family home, accompanied by his father, who handed her over to several religious figures and local dignitaries. After mediation, her father was asked to sign a written pledge promising not to harass her. However, once they returned home, he violated that pledge and killed her.”

The perpetrator turned himself in to the appropriate authorities. W.A. indicated that the opening of prisons in December 2024 led to his release without being tried or held accountable. She added,

“The proliferation of weapons and the lack of legal deterrents exacerbate the risk of such crimes, allowing them to recur in various forms. Many crimes committed against minors are recorded as ‘suicide,’ while sexual assaults, including harassment and rape, remain unpunished due to fear of stigma, violence, or even murder.”

She concluded,

“The phenomenon of ‘deadly guardianship’ still exists, as there are no effective mechanisms to protect girls from their families, even when those families pose a direct threat to their lives.”

In another troubling incident, a former teacher was released from As-Suwayda prison despite being convicted of sexually assaulting two underage girls, aged 7 and 9. According to the victims’ lawyer, the case was still under review by the Court of Cassation at the time of his release, leaving the family once again facing danger without protection or compensation, after they had turned to the justice system and borne heavy financial costs in pursuit of accountability. Although the crime did not result in murder, the sexual assault of two young girls at such a tender age constitutes a grave violation in itself. The psychological and social impact of such abuse cannot be underestimated, particularly when the perpetrator goes unpunished. Impunity not only deepens the victims’ sense of injustice but also increases the risk of repeat offenses against other girls while keeping the victims’ families trapped in a cycle of fear, especially from potential retaliation for speaking out.

6. Double Responsibility on the Transitional Authorities

As Syria enters its transitional phase, the new government confronts a significant legacy of structural violations that have impacted women for decades, particularly in the form of gender-based violence. “Honor” killings are a stark indicator of the ongoing system of violence and discrimination, which can only be dismantled through robust measures at legislative, institutional, and societal levels.

The fall of the former regime does not, in itself, bring about justice or end deeply rooted patterns of violence and abuse, including so-called “honor” killings, which have persisted even after control shifted to the new authorities. This places a heightened responsibility on those authorities to confront and prevent such crimes. They are accountable not only for their own actions but also for their silence or failure to address the entrenched legacy of violence and impunity. Any delay in decisively addressing this issue could undermine public trust in the transitional government and risk recreating the very climate of fear and discrimination that Syrians rose up against.

Although the transitional government faces significant challenges in security, institutional restructuring, and humanitarian response, addressing “honor” crimes does not necessarily require extensive resources. Instead, it primarily requires clear political will and concrete actions that restore trust in state institutions, especially among women and girls who have experienced double marginalization from their families and the authorities.

In the absence of legislative initiatives or official statements condemning these crimes or outlining plans to hold perpetrators accountable, a critical question arises: Will the transitional government take a clear stance against “honor” crimes and end impunity?  Or will it remain silent, focusing on issues it deems more urgent, to the detriment of women’s protection and their fundamental rights?

7. Legal opinion

Despite Law No. 2 of 2020 repealing Article 548 of the Syrian Penal Code No. 148 of 1949,[3] so-called “honor” killings continue to occur frequently. This ongoing violence reflects a deeply rooted culture that justifies abuse against women, coupled with weak legal and judicial deterrents. Article 548 had previously exempted perpetrators from punishment if they caught their wife or female relative in flagrante delicto committing adultery; however, it was later amended to offer a reduced sentence instead of full exemption, before ultimately being abolished. Over decades of application, this article contributed to normalizing impunity for gender-based violence and entrenched a climate that tolerated such crimes.

Since Syrian laws remain in effect under Article 51 of the Constitutional Declaration issued in March 2025, the crimes referenced in this report are legally classified as either premeditated murder if committed with prior planning and intent or intentional killing if carried out impulsively. This classification is based on Articles 533 to 535 of the Syrian Penal Code. Notably, Paragraph 3 of Article 535 explicitly states that premeditated murder committed against an ascendant or descendant is punishable by death, reflecting the legislature’s acknowledgment of the seriousness of such crimes. While the STJ opposes the death penalty because it violates the right to life, the legal text nevertheless emphasizes the severity of these acts and stresses the importance of imposing the maximum legal penalties on their perpetrators.

The Syrian Penal Code still leaves a dangerous loophole for justifying such crimes through Article 192, which allows for sentence mitigation when the crime is committed under the “honorable motive”. The Court of Cassation has defined this motive as “an overwhelming emotional impulse that drives the perpetrator to commit their crime under the influence of a sacred idea.”[4] This definition is vague and overly broad, granting judges significant discretion and opening the door to implicitly legitimizing acts of violence and revenge in the name of “honor.”

Internationally, these crimes represent a flagrant violation of the right to life, as outlined in Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). They also constitute a form of gender-based violence prohibited under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). This convention requires state parties, including Syria, to implement both legislative and practical measures to eliminate such violence and ensure that women can enjoy their rights equally with men. Additionally, these crimes violate the 1993 United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (DEVAW), which emphasizes the necessity of protecting women from violence and guaranteeing their right to life, dignity, and equality.

8. Recommendations

Considering the state’s responsibility to uphold the right to life, combat gender-based violence, and protect the most vulnerable groups, STJ calls on the Syrian transitional government to take the following actions:

At the Legislative Level

Amend the Penal Code to include an explicit provision criminalizing so-called “honor” killings, categorizing them as an aggravated crimes that do not accept mitigating circumstances or justifications based on family or societal norms. Additionally, Article 192 of the Penal Code should be revised to prevent its misuse as a justification for reducing penalties for such crimes;
Conduct a thorough review of existing legislation, particularly the Penal Code and the Personal Status Law, aiming to repeal or amend any provisions that restrict the freedoms of women and girls or criminalize their protection outside the family. This review should ensure that these laws align with principles of equality and non-discrimination, thereby strengthening legal protection for the most vulnerable groups.

At the judicial and procedural level

Emphasize that perpetrators of “honor” crimes must not be included in any general amnesty or administrative release without a fair trial. Their prosecution should continue per the law, without any discriminatory exceptions;
Ensure that all procedures are gender-sensitive in legislation, implementation, and treatment of victims. This will help to guarantee a fair and equitable response.

At the Institutional Level

Establish safe and specialized shelters for women and girls at risk of domestic or community-based violence;
Establish a free and secure national hotline to receive reports of gender-based threats and violence, and create specialized police and prosecutorial units to effectively manage such cases. Appoint qualified female personnel in police stations, prosecutorial offices, and shelters to ensure a safe and trustworthy environment that encourages women and girls to come forward;
Offer free legal assistance to survivors and those at risk of gender-based violence, either through government-run centers or in partnership with qualified independent organizations.

At the Societal and Educational Levels

Launch national awareness campaigns aimed at dismantling the “honor” discourse surrounding women, collaborating with the media, civil society organizations, and influential religious and social leaders;
Integrate concepts of equality and human rights into educational curricula, highlighting the importance of combating gender-based violence and promoting respect for human dignity.

At the international level

Foster collaboration with UN mechanisms centered on women’s rights and violence prevention. This involves submitting regular national reports and responding to the recommendations from relevant bodies;
Integrate international recommendations, particularly the provisions of CEDAW, into national policies and legislation. Strive to lift Syria’s reservations to the Convention, especially those related to equality before the law and within the family, demonstrating a genuine commitment to human rights.

[1] STJ concealed the identities of witnesses interviewed for this report to ensure their safety and security.

[2] STJ has published numerous reports documenting so-called “honor” killings. See, for example: Syria: 185 Cases of “Honor Killing” since 2019, 25 November 2022; A Woman Disappeared in Southern Syria — Reports Say She was Killed for Honor, 25 August 2021; Ten ‘Honor Killings’ in al-Hasakah and As Suwayda Since Early 2019, 8 August 2019; Under the Guise of Honor: Women Continue to Fall Victims to Violence Across Syria, 5 May 2021; Syria: Girl, Two Women Murdered in Alleged “Honor Killing”, 13 July 2019.

[3] Article 548 originally stated, “Anyone who catches their spouse, one of their ancestors, descendants, or siblings in the act of adultery or in an illicit sexual relationship, and accidentally kills or harms one of them, shall receive a mitigating excuse.” This article was later amended to read, “Whoever surprises their spouse, ascendant, descendant, or sister in the act of committing adultery or in an illicit sexual relationship, and kills or harms one of them, shall benefit from a mitigating excuse.” Ultimately, Law No. 2 of 2020, published in the Official Gazette on 12 March 2020, repealed the article in its entirety without providing a replacement.

[4] Syrian Court of Cassation. Al-Muhamoun [The Lawyers], no. 1–2 (1983).