Syria accused of torturing 2nd teenager to death

Thamer al-Sahri, 15, whose body was released by Syrian authorities six weeks after he had disappeared. His body shows evidence of torture.

/ Al Jazeera

The body of a 15-year-old Syrian boy, bearing signs of what activists called torture, was returned to his parents six weeks after the boy disappeared.

Video footage of the boy's body obtained by Al Jazeera from a Syrian source shows what appear to be gruesome wounds: Riddled with bullet holes, the boy's body is missing an eye and several teeth, his neck and leg broken. A large part of his lower face is now a large hole.

Al Jazeera Video: Syrians decry "torture" of teenage protester (Warning: Graphic)

Hundreds in the town of Jeeza mourned the death of Thamer al-Sahri Wednesday. The boy had vanished six weeks ago along with his friend, Hamza al-Khatib, a 13-year-old whose tortured remains were released by Syrian authorities in late May.

Hamza's body was covered in burns and scorch marks - signs of being tortured by electric shocks and cigarettes. Hamza's neck had been broken, his arms shot, and his genitals cut off.

The torture of a child became an international rallying cry against the regime of President Assad.

Syrian boy's brutal death rouses protesters
Complete coverage: Anger in the Arab World

Researcher Neil Sammonds of Amnesty International told Channel 4 News that dozens of children have been killed in the Syrian unrest - nearly 10 percent of the 1,060 known deaths of civilians, more than doubling UNICEF's previous estimate of 30 on June 1.

"We have definitely seen a pattern of increased brutality recently," Sammonds said. "It seems security forces are now willing to use violence without provocation at all."

Amnesty International interviewed a defecting Syrian soldier who refused to fire on protesters in Harasta on April 23.

The "violent gang" turned out to be about around 2,000 unarmed demonstrators, including women and children. Many of the protesters were carrying roses.

Walid al-Qash'ami said he witnessed the killing of three children and a young man and woman. One child was shot in the head. Al-Qash'ami said he heard the officer who killed him say that he shot the kid "because he was annoyed with his constant crying."

Al-Qash'ami and five other soldiers threw down their weapons and fled.

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
des enfants tortur?s, des corps mutil?s par les milices du r?gime Syrien,
les images sont horribles, le silence complice de la communaut? internationale est encore plus horrible
un autre r?gime qui s'?croule, parcequ'il a choisi la repression;
le peuple Syrien ne lui pardonnera pas


.........
children tortured, mutilated bodies by the militias of the Syrian regime,
the images are horrible, the silent complicity of international community is more horrible
another regime collapses, because he chose the repression;
The Syrian people will not forgive him
"au revoir"

[CJ-Keith]

I do not want to hear b.s. of "what it's like to be muslim" you ignorant people. The fact is we are all human beings and god damnit we all have basic rights as such- to live the best and happiest lives we can with out the push and shove of beasts like those who did this to these kids. If such barbaric people exist, and they do, they must be extinguished. No cover of any belief it religion should be permissible.

[TheKnowerseeker]

Unfortunately, this doesn't surprise me at all.

[rf35]

I must agree with jaimieandlis. As horrible as these acts are, they are just part of what it means to be Muslim. If Islamic countries want to change, they must first abandon the "religion of peace." If they won't, then let them kill each other and save us the trouble.

[samson1011]

I have to disagree with you and the other ignoramus buffoon. First, the current syrian baath party is a secular government that is being run by members of the 'Alawi sect which is tribal in nature. Alawi theology and Law are completely contrary to Islamic orthodoxy. Hence, other than their names, there is nothing Islamic or muslim about them. Second, the current Baath party was co-founded by a CHRISTIAN named Michel Aflaq, and their motto of "Unity, Liberty, Socialism" (OH..the irony), was inspired by a French Jacobin political doctrine. So, using the buffoons same logic, if the party was founded in France, it must have been founded by CHRISTIANS. It is also has resemblances to Communism and Marxism. So you see, everything that is conspiring in muslim lands is a result of external ideologies and influence. If it was based on Islamic ideology, well, we would still have the ottoman empire or something of that effect. That is, if it wasn't for the colonialist's recruiting arab nationalist's to fight against the ottomans. Ultimately, the reason for these atrocities is not religion, it's greed and hatred. Which are human vices. So you and your ignoramus friend need to take a real good look in the mirror. And reading a history book or two, won't hurt.

[slatep]

FINKFURST1

I think you need to join the Westboro Baptist Church.

Torture of adults is one thing, but what could Assad possibly hope to learn by tortuing children.

NATO needs to take the same steps to rid the world of the butcher Assad as they have toward eliminating Qaddafi.

Qaddafi is such a coward he is hiding in hospitals, schools and homes to avoid what he deserves.

KILLING.!!

Assad is just as bad and should be hunted down like the vermin he is and suffer the same fate.

I'm fed up to my teeth with these butchers.

The sooner they are eliminated, the better.!!

[inthemidwest]

Time to bomb them back to the Stone Age. Oh wait, they're already there.....

[Molly-Pchr]

Oh, please, we should stay home where we belong. All these wars in countries fighting for Democracy where Democracy wouldn't last a NY minute is bankrupting us. This has been going on in these countries for centuries. Burt our bombs, bring home our troops, fix our infrastructure or people who flee those countries looking for a better life won't have an America to come to.

[The Platzner Post]

A brutal and inhumane regime!!!