Public outrage over mercenary appointments by Damascus authorities
In a move described as “provocative and controversial,” the Damascus authorities’ decision to appoint the mercenary Harith Al-Rabbah as Director of the Digital Media Department in Deir ez-Zor has sparked a wave of rejection and public anger, particularly among women.
The appointment of Al-Rabbah, who is accused of documented involvement in murder and human rights violations, has drawn widespread criticism, especially from women’s and human rights circles.
Al-Rabbah, along with fellow mercenary Hatem Abu Shakra, leader of the “Ahrar al-Sharqiya” faction, is accused of assassinating Havrin Khalaf, the Secretary-General of the Future Syria Party, and her driver Farhad Ramadan in October 2019 on the M4 international highway. The crime prompted widespread international condemnation as a clear violation of international humanitarian law.
Later, video footage emerged showing both Abu Shakra and Al-Rabbah at the crime scene, desecrating the Kurdish politician’s body.
In a related development, European human rights sources reported that the German government added Al-Rabbah to its wanted list in 2019 based on documented reports accusing him of participating in armed activities and committing violations against civilians in Syria. An official arrest warrant was issued against him before he managed to leave German territory.
Previously, the appointment of Hatem Abu Shakra as commander of what is known as “Division 86” also sparked similar backlash. The Damascus authorities were criticized for assigning individuals linked to serious violations to leadership positions instead of holding them legally accountable.
Women’s and human rights organizations stated that appointing mercenaries and perpetrators of femicide to leadership roles in Syria sends a “disturbing message confirming the lack of seriousness in prosecuting those involved in the killing of women.” They warned that such actions “reinforce a culture of impunity and undermine efforts to achieve transitional justice in Syria.”
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