Syria: Kidnapped girls from an Alawite region reunited with their families, report being taught Islam by their captors
- Mahamunimodi Team
- May 28
- 2 min read
Two girls who had been abducted from Lattakia on March 23, along with their brother, have now safely returned to their family in Syria’s Tartous province. Their release comes after weeks of uncertainty and fear, during which the family remained in the dark about their fate. According to information obtained by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) from sources close to the family, the girls were handed over to a third party, who facilitated their return to their home. The identity of this intermediary remains undisclosed, as do the exact circumstances surrounding the negotiation or communication that led to their release.
Upon their return, the two girls appeared visibly changed—both in behavior and emotional state. Family members noted that they seemed more subdued and introspective than before the abduction. Despite their psychological transformation, the girls reported that they had been treated well by their captors. They claimed they were not harmed physically and said they had received Islamic religious instruction during their time in captivity. However, the nature and intent behind this religious indoctrination remain a subject of concern.
This incident echoes a growing pattern of abductions in war-torn regions of Syria, where various armed groups—some affiliated with extremist factions—often use kidnapping as a tactic for leverage, recruitment, or forced indoctrination. In some cases, children and young adults are targeted for ideological grooming, aiming to reshape their beliefs or prepare them for future roles within militant groups. Though the girls denied any mistreatment, their changed demeanor may suggest psychological coercion or exposure to ideologically charged environments.
While the return of the girls brings a measure of relief to their family, their joy remains overshadowed by anxiety over the fate of their missing brother. No information has yet surfaced regarding his whereabouts, and fears are mounting that he may have met a far graver fate. The possibility that he was executed—either as a form of retaliation or as a result of ideological extremism—haunts the family and underscores the brutal reality many Syrian families continue to face amidst lawlessness and the breakdown of state authority in contested regions.
This case highlights the persistent instability in parts of Syria where militant groups, warlords, and criminal networks operate with relative impunity. It also serves as a stark reminder of the psychological and emotional toll such conflicts take on civilians, particularly children, who are often the most vulnerable. The long-term impact on the two girls—emotionally, socially, and cognitively—remains to be seen, and psychological support will be crucial in helping them reintegrate into their community and process the trauma they have endured.
The situation also raises broader concerns about the lack of security infrastructure and judicial oversight in regions like Lattakia and Tartous, where abductions, disappearances, and extremist influence remain dangerously prevalent. Human rights organizations continue to call for international attention and pressure to protect civilians and address the growing influence of extremist ideologies in the region.
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