Syrian journalist, Marhaf al-Shaer, was shot and abducted Tuesday, January 6, in the southern city of Suwayda, an incident activists and media groups say reflects a growing pattern of intimidation and suppression of dissent by the Hijri-led National Guard militia.
Shaer was “shot in the legs” before being taken to an unknown location by fighters affiliated with the National Guard, a militia linked to Druze cleric Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, according to Syria TV and the local Suwayda 24 network. The shooting and abduction occurred at Fursan Square in central Suwayda.
Suwayda 24 reported that Muhannad Mazhar, identified as a National Guard leader, carried out the abduction after Shaer was shot by gunmen affiliated with the group. Syria TV cited local reporters who said Shaer was taken away while injured and did not receive immediate medical care. There was no official comment from the National Guard on the incident.
Family Targeted Amid Unresolved Killing
The abduction came less than a month after the killing of Shaer’s brother, activist and poet Anwar Fawzat al-Shaer. Anwar was shot dead on December 14, 2025, in front of his home in the village of Bosan in eastern Suwayda. Local outlets said the attackers remain unidentified and no arrests have been announced.
Suwayda 24 reported Marhaf al-Shaer had expressed dissenting political views and received threats in the past because of his reporting and opinions on the situation in the province. The outlet described National Guard leader Mazhar as “a controversial figure” who faced prior accusations related to drug trafficking before rising within the National Guard.
Broader Crackdown on Dissent
The journalist’s abduction follows a pattern of systemic abuses including a series of arrests, abuses and killings attributed by activists to the Israeli-backed Hijri-led movement. On November 29, National Guard forces detained several local figures accused of forming a “rival movement,” according to the Houran Free League.
Among those arrested was Sheikh Raed al-Mutni, a prominent local notable. Videos circulated on social media showed armed men shaving his beard and mustache and insulting him. Two days later, Mutni was found dead, his body left outside Suwayda National Hospital, according to posts by Qalaat al-Mudiq on X and reports from local activists.
Another detainee, Maher Falhout, was also reported killed after surrendering to the group. The National Guard said at the time it had thwarted a security plot and detained “traitors and conspirators,” denying wrongdoing.
Rights advocates say the pattern of arrests, public humiliation and killings has created a climate of fear in Suwayda, particularly for journalists and political opponents. Local activists warn the lack of accountability has further narrowed space for free expression. Meanwhile, the fate of Marhaf al-Shaer remains unknown, among a deepening concern for press freedom and personal safety in the province.
