In brief
Concerns grow over public safety as the new government struggles to establish adequate law enforcement, leaving civilians vulnerable to rising crime.
As violence surges post-civil war, Syrians are increasingly alarmed by a lack of security on their streets. Since the coalition overthrew President Bashar al-Assad in December, kidnappings have surged, revealing severe vulnerabilities within the new government’s ability to maintain law and order.Sami al-Izoo's distressing ordeal began when he witnessed the kidnapping of his brother, Abdulrazaq, who was forced into a dark vehicle by six masked assailants. Just 10 days later, Sami received a ransom demand of $400,000, accompanied by a harrowing video of his brother in a state of physical distress, highlighting the desperate situation of families caught in this emerging crime wave.With the regime's police forces having been abruptly dismissed, residents have expressed fears about inadequate law enforcement—the very forces that once perpetrated oppression have been completely removed without adequate replacement. The new government has since attempted to fill the gap, deploying untrained officers, but their efforts have proven insufficient to assure the public.Sami, hailing from Talbiseh near Homs, shared the emotional toll of his brother’s abduction, revealing he even resorted to selling personal belongings in hopes of meeting the high ransom. Like many in the region, he has no understanding of why his brother was targeted, underscoring the random and chaotic nature of the kidnappings.In Homs and across the war-torn nation, calls for more security checkpoints and better protection have become prevalent. Syrians are grappling with the unsettling reality that while they have endured years of war, the emergence of such crime has added another layer of fear to their daily lives.
