خطف طبيب متقاعد من حي وادي الذهب في حمص

Retired Doctor Kidnapped from Wadi Al-Dhahab Neighborhood in Homs

Dr. Mohammad Yaseen Al-Waari, 68 years old, was kidnapped today, April 24, from a shop he owns in the Wadi Al-Dhahab neighborhood of the city of Homs.

His son posted the following on Facebook:

“I don’t know if this post will help, but I’m knocking on every door I can. My father was kidnapped from our home an hour and a half ago in Homs, in the Wafa Al-Dhahab neighborhood. A security vehicle with four masked men came—no IDs, no explanation of who they were or what agency they represented. They clearly came targeting our house. My dad was in the shop on the ground floor with two other people when they entered and told everyone to stand up and face the wall. Then they asked for IDs. They took the IDs, and when my father said his ID was upstairs and offered to get it, they said, ‘No, we want you. Come with us.’ And they took him. My uncle went to the nearby security checkpoint. Officers came and took statements from those present and from the neighbors. My mother filed a police report. Everyone insists these men weren’t from security, and that Dr. Mohammad is not in their custody. My father is an elderly man, 68 years old. He was a practicing doctor in Saudi Arabia from 2009 to 2022. He’s not affiliated with any regime or political group. My brother and I fled the country in 2012. We’ve been separated for years. He hasn’t even met his grandchildren. I don’t know if this post will help, but I’m drowning, and this is my last straw.”

Update 1: One of the IDs belonging to a person who was in the shop at the time of the kidnapping was found discarded in Al-Rastan, according to General Security”

It’s worth mentioning that Al-Rastan is a Sunni-majority town. Clearly, the son, who has been living abroad, may not fully understand the current reality, where the HTS-led General Security sends its militants to kidnap Alawites, only to later deny any involvement. Even the son noted that the kidnappers arrived in a security vehicle.

Just a few days ago, residents in Homs stopped and confronted a group of kidnappers, recording their vehicle, which had a police license plate and a hood marked with the Ministry of Interior. Those same kidnappers had previously been seen parked in front of the General Security station.