Science for Human Rights
Hamza Ali al-Khateeb (13)
Reported place of arrest: Saida, Dera’a governorate
Reported date of arrest: 29 April
Reported date of delivery of body: 24 May
Observations on corpse: Pathologist video observation: Seemingly blunt force injury to face. Lesions on chest and abdomen (right hand side) are bluish discoloured with a central darker area that may well represent entrance wounds. Witness video observation: Neck broken, genitals mutilated (unclear in images).
Details: On April 29 Hamza joined many hundreds of people from al-Jeeza and other villages around Dera’a in peaceful marches towards the city in a symbolic attempt to break the blockade. The protesters were attacked by Syrian security forces, who reportedly shot at them near the Saida military compound and arrested several hundred people. Hamza Ali al-Khateeb is one of many who went missing. He was later reported to be held by Air Force Intelligence. On 24 May the family received a phone call to say there was a body in the al-Jeeza Hospital morgue which they should see, and a relative of Hamza Ali al-Khateeb went there and identified his body. According to publicly available video images and confidential material made available to Amnesty International, there were injuries to his face, head and back and his penis had been cut off. A forensic pathologist consulted by Amnesty International reviewed video evidence and concluded that the boy seemed to have suffered a “blunt force injury to the face” as well as bluish discoloured lesions with a central darker area on chest and right hand side of the abdomen, which could “represent entrance wounds”.
Authorities publicly announced that they had opened an investigation into the case but have not issued any information about the nature or scope of the investigation or even who the investigating authority is. Authorities have claimed that “armed groups” were responsible for the death of Hamza Ali al-Khateeb. Read the full report
© Private
Location on map is approximate.
Hamza Ali al-Khateeb (13)
Reported place of arrest: Saida, Dera’a governorate
Reported date of arrest: 29 April
Reported date of delivery of body: 24 May
Observations on corpse: Pathologist video observation: Seemingly blunt force injury to face. Lesions on chest and abdomen (right hand side) are bluish discoloured with a central darker area that may well represent entrance wounds. Witness video observation: Neck broken, genitals mutilated (unclear in images).
Details: On April 29 Hamza joined many hundreds of people from al-Jeeza and other villages around Dera’a in peaceful marches towards the city in a symbolic attempt to break the blockade. The protesters were attacked by Syrian security forces, who reportedly shot at them near the Saida military compound and arrested several hundred people. Hamza Ali al-Khateeb is one of many who went missing. He was later reported to be held by Air Force Intelligence. On 24 May the family received a phone call to say there was a body in the al-Jeeza Hospital morgue which they should see, and a relative of Hamza Ali al-Khateeb went there and identified his body. According to publicly available video images and confidential material made available to Amnesty International, there were injuries to his face, head and back and his penis had been cut off. A forensic pathologist consulted by Amnesty International reviewed video evidence and concluded that the boy seemed to have suffered a “blunt force injury to the face” as well as bluish discoloured lesions with a central darker area on chest and right hand side of the abdomen, which could “represent entrance wounds”.
Authorities publicly announced that they had opened an investigation into the case but have not issued any information about the nature or scope of the investigation or even who the investigating authority is. Authorities have claimed that “armed groups” were responsible for the death of Hamza Ali al-Khateeb. Read the full report
© Private
Location on map is approximate.