The Syrian Feminist Lobby expresses deep concern over the ongoing developments in the case of Ms. Mai Salloum, in light of converging reports indicating that she has been subjected to detention twice within a short period. The latest incident occurred in Latakia governorate, after she had been transferred to the Eastern Police Department for legal procedures that were expected to culminate in her safe return to her family and access to appropriate medical and psychological support.
However, subsequent documentation suggests that she was abruptly transferred to another location—reportedly the same place where she was previously abducted—in the absence of transparency or legal safeguards. This raises serious concerns regarding the legitimacy of the procedures and the conditions surrounding her detention.
The circumstances of this case—including reports of forcible relocation, denial of medical and psychological care, and the promotion of coerced narratives portraying her return as “voluntary”—raise serious questions about her ability to make free and informed decisions. Clear indications of intimidation and direct pressure necessitate the urgent intervention of independent and specialized bodies to assess her physical and psychological condition.
The pretext of “marriage” has also been used to justify actions taken outside the bounds of both legal and religious frameworks, shedding light on the vulnerability of women’s legal protection and the complicity of state-affiliated institutions in practices that legitimize violations of women’s rights under the guise of religion or tradition. These dynamics normalize the restriction of women’s freedom through systems of intimidation and coercion.
In line with our responsibility, we stress the following:
The immediate need to ensure the physical and psychological safety of Mai Salloum and to guarantee her access to independent support services in a secure environment.
The importance of subjecting her case to impartial medical and psychological examination, and ensuring her right to speak freely before an independent body without surveillance or coercion.
Our categorical rejection of any narrative constructed around so-called “consent” under unsafe or coercive conditions, as such claims constitute an additional violation of her dignity and right to autonomy.
Recognition that this incident is not isolated but reflects a broader pattern across Syria, in which security and social structures are weaponized to restrict women’s agency and impose choices upon them.
Mai Salloum’s case is situated within a wider context of gender-based violence and systematic violations against women and girls in Syria—particularly those from marginalized sectarian backgrounds. Several UN human rights mechanisms, including the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls and the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, have expressed grave concern over the abduction of at least 38 Alawite women and girls aged between 3 and 40 since February 2025. These cases have been accompanied by threats, forced marriage, and both physical and psychological abuse, all in the absence of effective investigation by the relevant authorities (OHCHR, 2025).
In parallel, Amnesty International has documented eight cases of abduction of Alawite women and girls, in addition to dozens more reported by civil society actors. The organization confirmed that most of these incidents occurred in broad daylight and were met with absolute inaction by law enforcement, including the failure to investigate, attempts to blame the victims and their families, and the systematic disregard of compelling evidence (Amnesty International, 2025).
Amid persistent impunity, women in these regions live in a state of constant fear and hypervigilance, with credible indications that some abductees have been subjected to forced marriage, exploitation, or detention under conditions that threaten their safety and dignity, as corroborated by testimonies and documented evidence.
The inconsistencies in the official narrative around Mai Salloum’s case, the restriction of communication with her, and the circulation of decisions attributed to her under unclear circumstances point to the urgent need for an independent and transparent investigation. They also indicate the possibility of repeated patterns of abuse previously documented in this context.
We call for immediate action by relevant regional and international human rights and feminist organizations to uncover her whereabouts, guarantee her right to make autonomous decisions, and bring an end to the impunity that continues to threaten the safety and rights of women in Syria.
It is equally critical to ensure the protection of her family, who have been subjected to pressure and intimidation. We hold the security authorities fully responsible for the safety of Ms. Mai Salloum’s family and close relatives.
Syrian Feminist Lobby
3 August 2025
