Suqaylabiyah residents demand release of three detainees

SUQAYLABIYAH, Syria — Calls for the release of three men detained following recent violence in the predominantly Christian town of Suqaylabiyah have intensified, with residents and rights advocates questioning the legal grounds for their continued detention. At the same time, a local volunteer initiative has sought to help the municipality maintain essential sanitation services after a reduction in its diesel allocations exposed the practical consequences of Syria's fuel shortages. The latest appeal, circulated on 14 October under the slogan “Freedom for Suqaylabiyah's Detainees,” called for a fair and transparent investigation into the cases of the detained men. It raised concerns about allegations of pressure to prevent their release and the possibility of inaccurate accusations being brought against them. The appeal emphasized that the law should protect citizens and preserve their dignity rather than become an instrument of retaliation or personal score-settling. It called on the relevant authorities to ensure the detainees' legal and constitutional rights. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights identified the three detainees in a report published on 17 October as Imad al-Abdullah, Joud Arab and Joseph Dweib. The Observatory called for the authorities to disclose the legal basis for their continued detention, ensure their access to a fair judicial process and release them if there were no sufficient legal grounds to keep them in custody. The allegations concerning pressure on the judicial process have not been independently established. SyriacPress could not independently verify the specific charges against the three men or establish whether the authorities had issued a response to the latest demands for their release. Detentions Follow Violence Against Christian Town The latest developments follow violence that erupted in Suqaylabiyah in early October, when a confrontation involving young men from the town and neighboring Qalaat al-Madiq escalated into gunfire and damage to businesses and private property. Local accounts described armed men entering Suqaylabiyah and firing toward homes and commercial establishments. At least one woman was reportedly injured, while an Orthodox priest narrowly escaped being shot, according to reports published by Aid to the Church in Need. Syrian authorities presented a narrower account, describing the incident as a dispute that escalated into an attack on a commercial establishment. The Interior Ministry's Internal Security Forces (ISF) said people from both Suqaylabiyah and Qalaat al-Madiq had been detained. But the subsequent security response became a source of further concern among residents and Christian community representatives, who questioned whether the authorities had adequately protected civilians and their property during the violence. Read also: Greek lawmaker Aspasia Kouroupaki questions government over protection of Christians in Syria  On 6 October, SyriacPress reported that some detainees from Suqaylabiyah had reportedly been transferred to security facilities in Qalaat al-Madiq. Local sources identified Khalil Ibrahim as one of those transferred, while the whereabouts of another resident, Osama al-Binyat, remained unclear at the time of publication. The report also documented concerns about the treatment of detainees and the possibility of criminal proceedings arising from the subsequent confrontations. On 7 October, SyriacPress reported that security authorities had summoned 16 Christian young men from Suqaylabiyah for questioning. The exact status of all those summoned, and the charges, if any, against them, remained unclear. The continuing uncertainty has placed renewed emphasis on the need for transparent investigations that establish individual responsibility based on evidence, rather than assumptions or collective accusations. Residents Turn to Community Initiative to Support Sanitation While questions surrounding detention and public security remain unresolved, another concern has emerged in the town, the ability of the municipality to maintain basic services amid shortages of fuel. On 14 October, the Amal Saqlab volunteer team, in cooperation with the Suqaylabiyah Municipal Council, announced a campaign called “One Liter” to help sustain municipal cleaning and waste collection operations. According to the organizers, the municipality had faced a 30% reduction in its diesel allocation because of shortages of petroleum products in Syria. The campaign aims to help the municipality continue removing rubbish, keeping streets clean and protecting public health. The initiative invites residents to contribute either one liter of diesel or its monetary equivalent. Residents can deliver diesel to the municipal council between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily. Those wishing to contribute financially can donate through Sham Cash in coordination with three members of the Amal Saqlab team, Alaa Sankari, Maral Abdullah and Catherine Ibrahim. The organizers described the initiative as a practical expression of community responsibility, emphasizing that even small contributions could collectively help preserve the town's cleanliness and appearance. The campaign also illustrates how local volunteer groups are attempting to compensate for resource constraints affecting municipal services, although the organizers have not publicly provided a fundraising target or detailed accounting of the contributions received. Security and Essential Services Remain Pressing Concerns The two developments reflect different but interconnected challenges facing Suqaylabiyah, residents' concerns about personal security and legal accountability, and the financial and logistical pressures affecting everyday life. The town's recent experience has prompted calls from Christian political representatives, community organizations and international advocates for stronger protection of civilians and more transparent security procedures. On 13 October, Greek Member of the European Parliament Fredis Beleris urged the European Union to seek concrete guarantees from the Syrian authorities for the protection of Christian communities, citing the violence in Suqaylabiyah and the continuing uncertainty surrounding detained young men. 🇬🇷 Οι Ρωμιοί της Συρίας, οι ιστορικές Ελληνορθόδοξες κοινότητες με παρουσία αιώνων, βρίσκονται ξανά αντιμέτωποι με τον φόβο και τη βία. Οι καταγγελίες για νέα ένοπλη επίθεση στη Σουκαϊλαμπίγια, με επιθέσεις σε κατοίκους και καταστροφές σε σπίτια, επιχειρήσεις και χριστιανικές περιουσίες, προκαλούν βαθιά ανησυχία. Πρόκειται για έναν αυτόχθονα πληθυσμό με βαθιές ιστορικές ρίζες και αναφαίρετο δικαίωμα να ζει στις πατρογονικές του εστίες με ασφάλεια, ελευθερία και αξιοπρέπεια. Η Ελλάδα παρακολουθεί στενά τις εξελίξεις και η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση οφείλει να συνεχίσει να αναλαμβάνει πρωτοβουλίες, διεκδικώντας συγκεκριμένες εγγυήσεις από τις συριακές αρχές για την προστασία των χριστιανικών κοινοτήτων. Η ασφάλεια και η ελευθερία τους αποτελούν ζήτημα ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων, ιστορικής ευθύνης και ευρωπαϊκών αξιών. 🇬🇷🇪🇺 #europarl #beleris #eppgroup #neademokratia — fredisbeleris (@fredisbeleris) October 12, 2026 Community representatives have also called for Christians to be allowed to participate in official security structures responsible for protecting their towns and property, arguing that equal citizenship must include equal protection under the law. For Suqaylabiyah's residents, the immediate priorities remain clear, an impartial review of the detainees' cases, accountability for those responsible for the violence and reliable protection against further attacks. The “One Liter” campaign addresses a more immediate municipal need, seeking to keep rubbish collection and street cleaning operating despite reduced fuel supplies. Together, the demands for justice and the effort to sustain basic services underscore a broader expectation among residents: that public institutions should protect their rights, maintain essential services and provide the conditions necessary for communities to live safely and with dignity.