The former Mukhtar of Sarouja and the commander of the National Defense Sector in the region, Haitham Al-Fahl, was seen shopping on Thursday morning, tin the governorate square, less than 12 hours after his arrest.
The residents had filed numerous complaints against him at the Abbasid police station, accusing him of numerous crimes, including direct fighting with the regime, and arresting and torturing the area’s young men, which led to his arrest on Wednesday.
However, “Al-Fahl” was released less than 12 hours after his arrest, and returned to his daily life normally, disregarding the residents’ complaints and accusations.
Who is Al-Fahl?
Al-Fahl is known for being one of the most prominent leaders of the National Defense in the Sarouja area for many years and its Mukhtar, where he enjoyed great influence and power.
Al-Fahl was an active member of the so-called Russian-Syrian peace initiative, which aimed to promote reconciliation with the regime.
Al-Fahl received numerous honors from the Russian occupation, which confirms his close relations with them; Especially since he is a broker for recruiting young men into the Fifth Corps. But the most dangerous thing is his direct fighting alongside the regime forces, and his involvement in acts of violence and thuggery; he is responsible for the arrest of hundreds of young men in the region.
Testimony from a former detainee
In a testimony to Zaman al-Wasl, Turkey-based Nour al-Din Kharfan recounts how al-Fahl arrested him in 2014 from his workplace in one of Sarouja's hotels, and brutally tortured him in his security headquarters for three hours, before handing him over to the Air Force Intelligence, where he was subjected to more brutal torture.
Kharfan confirmed that what happened to him is just one example among dozens, and perhaps hundreds of similar cases, for which al-Fahl was directly responsible, as he caused the arrest, torture and killing of many young men in the region.
Questions about justice
Serious questions about the ability of justice to hold accountable those involved in crimes and violations against civilians, and about the extent of the influence and power of some figures who appear to be above the law. It also reveals the extent of the suffering experienced by the people of Abbasiyyin, who are afraid to express their complaints for fear of revenge by Al-Fahl and his associates.
The case of Al-Fahl is not just an isolated incident, but rather reflects a bleak picture of the situation in Syria, where some people seem to enjoy absolute immunity, and act as if they are above the law, which increases the suffering of civilians, and undermines any hope of achieving justice and reconciliation.
By Al-Hussein Al-Shishakli
Zaman Al Wasl
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