Syria detains policeman over death of White Helmets rescuer hit in custody
Al Jazeera
β’Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:19:30 +0000
π° What Happened
Syrian police have arrested an officer, Ahmad Jawad, who investigators say slapped a detainee with a medical condition who later died. The Interior Ministry said Mohammad Ghamira, a 29-year-old former White Helmets volunteer, suffered bleeding on the brain believed to have been caused by the slap and died after release. The officer has been referred to the public prosecutor.
π The Backstory
Ghamira, a father of two, suffered from severe haemophilia. He was a volunteer with the White Helmets, the civil defence group in rebel-held areas of Syria, and both he and his wife had warned authorities of the medical danger.
π― Why It Matters
The case raises questions about the accountability of Syrian authorities and police conduct in custody. It also highlights the vulnerabilities of former White Helmets volunteers in the transition from civil war.
Syrian police have arrested an officer, Ahmad Jawad, who investigators say slapped a detainee with a medical condition who later died. The Interior Ministry said Mohammad Ghamira, a 29-year-old former White Helmets volunteer, suffered bleeding on the brain believed to have been caused by the slap and died after release. The officer has been referred to the public prosecutor.
Ghamira, a father of two, suffered from severe haemophilia. He was a volunteer with the White Helmets, the civil defence group in rebel-held areas of Syria, and both he and his wife had warned authorities of the medical danger.
The case raises questions about the accountability of Syrian authorities and police conduct in custody. It also highlights the vulnerabilities of former White Helmets volunteers in the transition from civil war.