Ruhada Abdoush 
Hanen Alsayd

In southern Syria, near the town of Sweida, a young woman was killed by her father in what was later labelled a “crime of honour”. He fled the scene and, amid the collapse of state institutions following the fall of the Syrian regime in the area, faced no serious attempt at prosecution.

This investigation traces the events leading up to the killing through testimonies from the victim’s close friends and family. It examines how Syrian legal frameworks continue to allow reduced sentences in so-called honour crimes, and how these outdated provisions contribute to a culture of impunity.
It also explores the broader legal and institutional collapse that has weakened the capacity of judicial and security bodies to hold perpetrators accountable. Experts in law and women’s rights offer insight into how this legal vacuum is fuelling gender-based violence — with no system left to protect the most vulnerable.

Read the full story in Arabic here.
This investigation was republished by our Partners Sharika Walaken here and by the New Woman Foundation here.