Report: 64 Alawite Women Abducted in Syria
The IIRF alleges the new government obstructed investigations and dismissed 41 of 42 cases in a November inquiry.
By Carlos Rousseau ·
Syria's new interim government has faced criticism for its handling of violence against religious minorities. A report published by the International Institute for Religious Freedom (IIRF) details 64 cases of abduction and sexual violence targeting Alawite women since the fall of the Assad regime nearly two years ago.
The IIRF analyzed these anonymized cases to identify patterns in the abuse. The report states that survivors, families, and civil society groups documented a specific method of targeting. Women were often questioned about their religious identity before being taken. Those who identified as Alawite were reportedly seized at gunpoint. The report describes this as a targeted campaign rather than isolated criminal acts.
Victims described severe physical and psychological trauma during their captivity. Many returned with signs of torture, including razor cuts, bruising, and shaved heads. Some were held underground and starved. Others were forced to marry strangers aligned with armed groups. Abductors also coerced women into recording videos where they claimed they had run away or married willingly. These fabricated narratives were used to shield perpetrators from accountability.
The report highlights the role of state security forces in obstructing justice. Families attempting to report abductions encountered repeated barriers. Police refused to issue referrals in several instances. Surveillance cameras were declared non-functional. Telecommunications data was withheld. In some cases, security forces detained survivors immediately after their return. They interrogated the women and forced them to adopt false accounts of their disappearances.
Authorities also pressured families to remain silent. They were instructed not to publish photographs or speak publicly about the cases. In one instance, a family was warned that their entire village would be destroyed if they continued seeking information. The IIRF argues that these actions show state complicity in the abuse of minority women.
A government-led inquiry in Damascus provided a contrasting account in November 2025. The authorities examined 42 cases from the March 2025 sectarian violence. They concluded that only one case constituted a kidnapping. The remaining 41 were classified as non-criminal events. The committee attributed 12 to elopement, nine to stays with relatives, and six to fleeing domestic violence. Four were labeled as extortion or prostitution, and four were cited as criminal offenses committed by the women themselves.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have challenged these government findings. The IIRF notes that the state's classification of events as private or non-political matters serves to control the narrative. The report warns that this framing reflects a broader pattern of denial in post-conflict environments. It states that the handling of these allegations is a key indicator of Syria's emerging human rights institutions.
The IIRF adds that the systematic targeting of women could constitute gender-based persecution under international law. Acts committed by armed groups or state actors may also qualify as war crimes. These include hostage-taking and outrages upon personal dignity. The report emphasizes that the failure to investigate or prevent these kidnappings remains a central concern for observers of the Syrian transition.
