Documentation Report on the Murder of Sheikh Shaaban Al-Mansour and his Son Hussein in Salhab – Hama Countryside, on March 7, 2025
Report Prepared By: Anti-Violence and Hatred Center in Syria
Release Date: April 2025
Documentation Type: Investigative Report Based on Direct Testimonies from the Victims’ Families
Crime Classification: Crime Against Humanity, Extrajudicial Killing, Sectarian Persecution, War Crime
First: General Background
On the morning of Friday, March 7, 2025, the town of Salhab in western Hama countryside was attacked by armed factions affiliated with the transitional authorities in Syria, directly linked to the Syrian Ministry of Defense. This raid came as part of a sectarian incitement campaign broadcast through official and semi-official media platforms, specifically targeting the Alawite sect, and was accompanied by a large-scale military operation in the area.
Second: Incident Details
According to direct testimony from the victims’ families, the center documented the following:
A group of armed men stormed the house of Sheikh Shaaban Al-Mansour, 80 years old, a well-known religious figure in the town, who had recently suffered a stroke and was severely weak in movement due to his condition.
All family members were assaulted and beaten with fists and rifle butts, and they were forced to lie down on the floor.
The Sheikh’s room was stormed despite his medical condition, and he was dragged from his bed by force, despite his son Hussein’s pleas to protect him. Hussein attempted to intervene and was shot twice in front of his family.
The Sheikh was taken in a military vehicle, and his body was found hours later in a field near the town, with three gunshot wounds.
Hussein was left to bleed for more than three hours, and his family was prevented from providing medical aid under threat of weapons, which led to his death before reaching the hospital.
The confirmed number of victims during the massacre was 13 people, who were executed on the spot under similar circumstances, even though the town had been completely calm on the morning of the massacre, with no military activity or any threat that would justify the entry of forces.
Third: Legal Classification
According to the documented information and based on the Rome Statute, the incident constitutes:
1. Crime Against Humanity
Under Article (7) of the Rome Statute, the following elements are present in the incident:
- Intentional killing.
- Sectarian persecution.
- The commission of the crime as part of a systematic policy and in the context of a large-scale campaign.
2. War Crime
The incident falls under war crimes (Article 8), as it targeted civilians during a non-international armed conflict, without distinction or military necessity.
3. Extrajudicial Killing
The victims were not subjected to any form of legal or judicial procedures but were immediately executed, a gross violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.