Syrian Interior Ministry: 41 Reported Kidnappings Proven False, Only One Confirmed Case
Welat TV – Erbil
The Syrian Ministry of Interior announced that investigations into reports of women and girls being kidnapped in the Syrian coastal region revealed that only one case was confirmed, while 41 others turned out to be false.
Ministry spokesperson Noraddin al-Baba said during a press conference on Sunday, November 2, 2025, that the investigation covered incidents reported from the beginning of the year until September 10. He explained that the investigative committee gathered and verified all reports and online posts regarding alleged kidnappings in the provinces of Latakia, Tartous, Homs, and Hama, handling a total of 42 cases over the course of 60 sessions during a three-month period.
Findings of the Investigation Committee
According to the ministry, after reviewing official records, interviewing victims and their families, and visiting the locations mentioned in social media posts, it was determined that 41 of the complaints were not actual kidnappings, distributed as follows:
• 12 cases of voluntary elopement with a romantic partner
• 9 cases of temporary disappearance while staying with relatives or friends
• 6 cases of fleeing domestic violence • 6 false reports spread on social media
• 4 cases involving prostitution or extortion
• 4 criminal cases whose perpetrators have been arrested by the authorities
Only one case was confirmed to be an actual kidnapping, the ministry stated, noting that the victim was safely returned to her family following security efforts, while investigations continue to identify the culprits.
Al-Baba called on citizens, civil society, and human rights organizations to report any suspicions or cases directly to the Ministry of Interior and to avoid spreading rumors or unverified information online.
Background: Reports of Kidnappings in Syria’s Coastal Region
Over recent months, several media outlets and human rights groups have reported alleged kidnappings of women and girls in Syria’s coastal provinces. A Reuters report published in June cited multiple cases of abductions in Tartous, Latakia, and Hama, where kidnappers reportedly demanded ransom payments and threatened to kill their victims if families failed to comply.
According to the statistics cited by the report, 33 kidnappings of women and girls aged between 16 and 39, all belonging to the Alawite community, were documented. Families of the victims reported ransom demands, death threats, and cases of trafficking, leading to heightened concern among Alawite communities about what appeared to be a pattern of targeted attacks.