Sami al-Izoo received his first ransom demand via text message ten days after witnessing his brother Abdulrazaq’s kidnapping—a traumatic event where masked men forced Abdulrazaq, 60, into a vehicle after tying his hands and placing a black bag over his head. Since this ordeal, Sami has been repeatedly pestered by video messages and threats from the kidnappers as he.struggles to amass the $400,000 they are demanding. With limited means, Sami is resorting to selling cars and land, acknowledging that this will still fall short of the considerable sum required.

The kidnapping occurs amidst a wave of such incidents following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad in December, with the new governing coalition initially disbanding all government officials to fill the security vacuum. The security forces, once tools of oppression, despite criticism from citizens over their disbandment, have been replaced with new recruits who have yet to adequately secure the country. Sectarian disputes, lawlessness, and reprisal attacks flourish in this setting, with the new government facing significant challenges in stabilizing the nation.

Syrians clamor for a stronger police presence and assertive governance to counter the rising insecurity. Despite his own brother’s abduction and the dismissive initial response from local authorities, Sami al-Izoo emphasizes the need for the new rulers to demonstrate their strength and establish a sense of security.

Efforts to restore order have been made, but the process is slow. Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Shara, acknowledges the work in progress while noting that decades of authoritarianism cannot be undone swiftly. The recruitment and training of new police officers are underway, yet the country’s security remains a distant goal, compounded by problems such as electricity shortages and a lack of policing.

Families demand more than just policing; they seek safety and justice. Kidnappings often go unreported, with families facing silence and despair as they grapple with the ransom demands or, regrettably, the grim outcomes, as in the case of the Shadood brothers. As the Shira family mourns their loss, they also plead for the government to prevent further tragedies.

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Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/10/world/middleeast/syria-security-kidnappings.html