Syria detains policeman over death of White Helmets rescuer hit in custody

What the report says

Syrian authorities have detained a police investigator and opened a possible criminal case after an inquiry into the death of Mohammad Ghamira, a former White Helmets volunteer who died shortly after being released from custody. Al Jazeera reported that the Interior Ministry said Ghamira, 29, was slapped by investigator Ahmad Jawad while in detention, and that the officer has been referred to the public prosecutor.

Ghamira had been arrested last week on suspicion of theft and later died in a hospital in the coastal city of Latakia on Sunday. The investigation found that he had a rare blood-clotting disorder, haemophilia, and officials said he had informed internal security personnel about the condition. His wife also reportedly warned authorities twice about the risk of harm. A committee head said the death was linked to a brain haemorrhage believed to have followed the slap.

Two additional police officers are under investigation, though they are not currently expected to face prosecution. The Interior Ministry said the conduct violated rules banning humiliating or abusive treatment of detainees, and the minister said accountability was necessary to show that the new authorities are serious about rule of law.

The case has drawn strong public anger in Syria, where abuses in detention remain a sensitive issue after years of rights violations under Bashar al-Assad. As Al Jazeera noted, Ghamira’s service with the White Helmets, a rescue group widely respected in opposition-held areas, has added to the emotional response.