Baladi News – Aleppo (Hassan al-Obaid)
Abdullah, a disabled young man from eastern Aleppo, did not know that even money would not make Assad’s thugs spare him.
The sufferings of Abdullah Abu Mahmoud started once he graduated from Faculty of Law at the University of Aleppo more than 15 years ago. That time, his spine was broken in a car accident, which caused complete paralysis of his limbs.
However, Abdullah’s physical disability did not prevent him from doing very well in business. He owned and managed several stores and industrial workshops. When Assad’s regime and Iran militias imposed the blockade on eastern Aleppo, Abdullah stayed in the city to help in mitigating the hunger and sufferings of the besieged civilians.
When Assad’s regime forces and the Shiite militias stormed the city, Abdullah decided to head towards western Aleppo, where his brothers live. After completing several arrangements, including bribing Assad’s regime checkpoints, the man was able to reach his intended destination.
Nevertheless, security forces arrested the disabled man along with his brothers the next day. They were taken to the infamous Airforce Intelligence branch.
Less than 24 hours later, the man was reported dead inside the branch known for its crimes. Abdullah’s corpse was not handed over to his family, and no one knows where he was buried, whereas one of his brothers was released and the others are still uncounted for.
Abdullah is not the first victim of Assad’s regime systematic killings. There are several stories that haven’t been told yet of civilian victims killed under torture at Assad’s intelligence branches.