Christians and other minority groups have faced arbitrary detention by the Syrian Transitional Government, with motives that at times seem tied to the detainees' ethnic or religious background, according to a new report by Christian Solidarity International submitted to the UN. The report claims that those held are frequently compelled to follow Islamic customs and barred from using items tied to their personal beliefs.

While recognizing the major difficulties Damascus encounters in holding accountable those responsible for crimes under Bashar al-Assad, CSI noted that the proposed settlement framework has served as a model for addressing the situation.

Under this approach, former regime security personnel could turn themselves in, surrender weapons, and obtain new identification once officials confirmed they were not linked to serious offenses against Syrians.

Although intended to ease the transition, international reviews have found that thousands connected to the prior government, those exercising political rights, or individuals facing extortion claims remain held without trial.

Suleiman Khalil, former mayor of Sadad from 2012 to 2016, illustrates this pattern. Detained on February 8, 2025, he continues to be held without charges, legal representation, family contact, or details on accusations against him, as CSI documented.

Christian town faced assaults from group started by Syrian President Sharaa

Khalil's family emphasized his membership in the Syrian Social Nationalist Party and lack of combat involvement, even as his predominantly Christian town endured attacks from the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, the Islamist faction founded by current President Ahmed Al-Sharaa. The Nusra occupation lasted a week and resulted in 41 civilian deaths.

This background prompts questions about whether Khalil faces punishment for defending his town against forces now in power, the report stated.

Confined in Homs Central Prison and reportedly denied care for a herniated disc and ear issues, Khalil has also been prevented from practicing his Syriac Orthodox faith, with accounts of torture emerging as well.

During infrequent family visits, female relatives said they were required to wear the hijab and abaya and could not deliver a cross or Bible to him. He was also reportedly made to fast during Ramadan.

Damascus has verified the detention of 3,500 former regime military members.

CSI pointed to repeated accounts of Christians in Saydnaya, Jaramana, and Wadi al-Nasara being jailed by local officials to pressure their families for payments. An ongoing issue involves the abduction of women and girls from minority groups.

Kurdish journalist Hassan Zaza was taken by security forces on June 27, 2025, held without contact for nearly a week, and freed on July 3. Alawite journalist Noor Suleiman was detained without charge by the political security branch in Mezze, Damascus, on July 26, 2025, after criticizing sectarian violence against Druze and Alawites. Following public pressure, she was released three days later, reportedly on bail.

CSI also described the case of Milad al-Farkh, a Christian merchant from Kfara in Homs governorate, arrested on August 24, 2025, who died in custody. His family claimed officials demanded $10,000 for his release and noted signs of violence on his body. A relative requesting an autopsy was later detained.

Alawites detained or threatened after protesting abductions and forced conversions

Alawite community members have been arrested or faced threats for opposing the abduction of Batoul Suleiman Alloush, a young medical student taken from her university.

Officials insist she departed willingly and converted to Sunni Islam voluntarily. Yet a family source previously stated to The Jerusalem Post that Alloush was seized and drugged, and would never have joined the group responsible for killing her best friend and her cousin's family in a sectarian incident.

The Institute for the Documentation of Human Rights Violations Against Religious Minorities in the Levant has recorded 131 missing women cases since January 2025, with 112 involving Alawite females aged 12 to 45.

Although at least 50 cases are confirmed abductions, the transitional government has mostly dismissed the problem, and verified evidence shows direct or indirect involvement by the General Security Service in at least 12 instances, the report added.

These detentions breach Syria's constitution, CSI stressed, citing Article 18, which states that except in cases of visible crimes, no one may be arrested or have their freedom limited without a judicial order.

The actions also contradict Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which safeguards against arbitrary arrest or detention, along with Articles 10 and 11, which ensure rights to a fair public trial and legal counsel.