Brutal double murder in Hmoth, Syria, sparks outrage

HMOTH (HOMS), Syria — A respected teacher and his wife were found brutally murdered this week in Hmoth (Homs), just days after attempting to reclaim their confiscated home from individuals reportedly affiliated with Syrian security forces. 

Nabil Khaddour, a literature professor, and Lama al-Sarem, a middle school teacher, had filed a complaint at the governor’s office after a group in General Security uniforms seized their residence in the al-Adawiyah neighborhood. They were detained inside the building and later found executed in the Hasan ibn al-Haytham military camp. 

Their deaths have fueled public outrage in a city long scarred by conflict and repression. No official statement has been issued, and rights groups are demanding a full investigation. 

In post-Assad Syria, cases of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, and property seizure remain alarmingly frequent, particularly in areas with contested authority. For many Syrians, the couple’s murder is a grim reminder that justice remains elusive, even in a so-called new era.