Who isYoussef al-Labbad? Syrian man returns from Germany to die in Syria detention center

Al Bawaba

31-07-2025

Published July 31st, 2025 - 06:45 GMT
ALBAWABA - Syrian man Youssef al-Labbad, originally from the Qaboun neighborhood of Damascus, died in an Internal Security Forces detention center in the capital, Damascus, just two days after returning from Germany under mysterious circumstances.
The family of Youssef al-Labbad and many human rights activists accused the Syrian authorities of his death, saying he was tortured in prison until he died, as wounds and scars were found all over his body when he was handed over to his family to bury him.
Sources close to the family indicated that the man was arrested while he was inside the Umayyad Mosque, and his body was later handed over to his family and had clear traces of torture, which sparked widespread condemnation, controversy and direct accusations of internal security of torturing him to death.
On the other hand, Syrian Minister of Justice Dr. Mazhar al-Wais affirmed the commitment to holding accountable all those proven to be involved in the case of Syrian citizen Youssef al-Labbad, without favoritism or leniency.
#سوريا | وفاة الشاب #يوسف_اللباد في ظروف غامضة بعد يومين من عودته من #ألمانيا.. وفتح تحقيق رسمي لكشف الملابسات
توفي الشاب السوري يوسف اللباد، أحد أبناء حي القابون الدمشقي، داخل مركز احتجاز يتبع للأمن الداخلي في العاصمة دمشق، بعد يومين فقط من عودته من ألمانيا، يتابع...👇 pic.twitter.com/hF8Y9a1Rp9 — حميد القوسي (@Hamid_alqawsi) July 31, 2025
In a post on X, al-Wais wrote: "We would like to express our appreciation to our people for their concern, vigilance, and heartfelt engagement regarding the case of the slain citizen Youssef al-Labbad. We understand the anger shown by citizens toward this painful incident."
"We reaffirm our commitment to holding accountable everyone proven to be involved in this case, without favoritism or leniency," he maintained.
However, the Syrian Ministry of Interior had a different story, claiming that Youssef al-Labbad, was in an unstable condition and he hurt himself using sharp tools while in the detention center.
#سوريا | وفاة الشاب #يوسف_اللباد في ظروف غامضة بعد يومين من عودته من #ألمانيا.. وفتح تحقيق رسمي لكشف الملابسات
توفي الشاب السوري يوسف اللباد، أحد أبناء حي القابون الدمشقي، داخل مركز احتجاز يتبع للأمن الداخلي في العاصمة دمشق، بعد يومين فقط من عودته من ألمانيا، يتابع...👇 pic.twitter.com/hF8Y9a1Rp9 — حميد القوسي (@Hamid_alqawsi) July 31, 2025
The commander of Internal Security in Damascus Governorate, Brigadier General Osama Muhammad Khair Atikah, revealed in a statement what happened with the young man, Youssef al-Labbad, in a mosque in Damascus, which led to his death.
The Ministry of Interior said on Telegram, "On Tuesday, the 29th of this month, reports were received of a young man in an unstable psychological state. He entered the Umayyad Mosque in a state of unsteadiness and began uttering incomprehensible phrases, as documented by surveillance cameras inside the mosque. The situation was dealt with by mosque security personnel, who attempted to calm him down and prevent him from harming himself or others."
Soondus Othman, Youssef's wife posted on Facebook: "My husband was arrested from the Umayyad Mosque and died at the hands of the General Security under torture."
She added, "There were signs of torture everywhere on his body, and my husband has only been back in the country that was once safe for two days. I am demanding justice for my husband and my children, and everyone with a conscience must come forward and demand his justice."
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