In a horrific crime added to the growing series of domestic violence incidents in Syria, a Syrian citizen shot and killed his wife, claiming afterwards that he rushed her to help after she was injured by a gunshot in the middle of the public street. According to details revealed by the Syrian Ministry of Interior, the police station in Sayida Zainab, located in the rural area of Damascus, reported that a woman in her thirties was admitted to a regional hospital with severe injuries. Due to the critical nature of her wounds, she was transferred to Damascus Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries from an unknown gunshot wound while walking in the street, based on the witness accounts who provided first aid.
The Syrian Ministry of Interior added: "Through investigation and information gathering by the police in the town of Beit Sahem, it was found that the victim had not been killed in the public street but rather at her husband's home with a military rifle. Witnesses who claimed she was killed in the street were summoned and during their interrogation, they admitted that their testimonies were false and that they covered for the killer because he was their friend."
The Syrian Ministry's statement further indicated: "The suspect, identified as (Abdulaziz K.), was located and arrested. During the investigation, he confessed to killing his wife, named (Hawra H.), following an argument sparked by her refusal to attend a wedding with his mother. He drew his rifle and shot her, then, along with his friends, took her to the hospital and claimed she was shot in the public street. He also admitted to changing the bedroom door due to bullets entering it and removing evidence of the crime, stating there were ongoing conflicts with his wife. The weapon used in the crime has been retrieved, and the necessary reports against the false witnesses have been filed, with both the witnesses and the killer set to be presented to the competent judiciary for appropriate punishment."
Syrian social media networks have been flooded with angry comments lamenting the state of the country, marked by a breakdown in social peace and a rising culture of violence in everyday interactions, even within families. One user noted: "Light weapons like pistols and grenades have become more available than oil and sugar in Syria," while others pointed out that the proliferation of drug use, unemployment, and poverty, along with the resulting psychological and familial problems, has led to the use of weapons to resolve trivial matters and minor disputes.
Commenting on the rise in domestic violence and related murder cases, Syrian psychologist Hussam Al-Darir stated in an interview with "Sky News Arabia": "The issue is primarily related to significant security breakdown rather than psychological backgrounds. Weapons are accessible to all, and there are violent tendencies in society fueled by chaos, crisis, and the distribution of arms. It is entirely natural for this rampant phenomenon of community and domestic violence to emerge after ten years of war, the absence of law, deterioration of judicial and educational systems, and economic collapse. What should surprise us is that these phenomena do not escalate at a higher rate than they are currently."
The psychological expert elaborated on the depth of the tragedy: "Due to the widespread availability of weapons, a Syrian citizen now carries their weapon when going to buy a loaf of bread from a bakery. Previously, if you had a disagreement with someone, you might insult them or, in the worst case, engage in a physical altercation. Now, weapons are drawn immediately, and used to resolve personal and familial conflicts. The reported cases of social and domestic violence are only the tip of the iceberg; what remains hidden is far more alarming."
Regarding methods to curb this security breakdown and the risks of general family and social disintegration, he said: "The solution lies in stopping the war, withdrawing weapons from people's hands, conducting reconciliations, addressing the effects of war and its societal repercussions, and tightening the state's security grip while enforcing the rule of law. For instance, there is laxity in implementing judicial rulings against offenders who commit murder and violence, especially domestic violence, which consequently incentivizes individuals with criminal and sadistic tendencies to commit further crimes amid the absence of deterrents and punishment. Overall, this issue relates to the urgent need for social reform."
Syria has been suffering from a severe crisis and war for over a decade, resulting in nearly half a million deaths, in addition to hundreds of thousands injured or disabled, amid widespread economic collapse and deteriorating infrastructure, negatively reflecting on the community, which now faces value breakdowns manifested in the rising tide of crime in various forms, particularly those categorized under domestic violence.
