Over nearly eight years, the brutal conflict in Syria has exposed the darker side of human nature on far too many occasions. Now the rise of a kidnapping industry in Idlib province provides further evidence, should any be needed, that no matter how low human beings have sunk, there will always be some prepared to sink even lower.
It is less than two months since Turkey and Russia established a demilitarised buffer zone around the north-western province, forestalling a potentially catastrophic offensive by the Assad regime and bringing a glimmer of hope to the three million civilians trapped alongside up to 75,000 rebel fighters. Now a fresh horror is emerging. Despite the ceasefire, a number of medical frontline workers have been kidnapped and held to ransom. Some blame criminal gangs, others the Al Qaeda-affiliated Hayat Tahrir Al Sham. Whatever the truth, it seems likely that much of the money generated by this despicable industry has found its way into the Hayat Tahrir Al Sham war chest. The distinction is academic, both for the kidnap victims and their families, and for a desperate population facing the loss of badly needed and already scarce medical care.
Doctors, pharmacists, paramedics and even health administrators are being targeted for two simple reasons: they earn more than most and, at work in the community without protection, they are easy prey. Some have been returned for ransoms, others remain missing. At Sochi in September, the Russian and Turkish presidents shook hands on a deal for Syria in a spirit of mutual self-interest. Both, then, carry a degree of responsibility for events unfolding in Idlib. Turkish and Russian troops patrol the 20 kilometre-deep buffer zone. Turkey has a dozen military observation posts within the enclave, heavily manned and backed by armoury. It behoves both powers to monitor and regulate criminal activities within the province. Turkey, especially, is in a position to do so. It maintains links with rebel groups for the express purpose of keeping Hayat Tahrir Al Sham in check, yet the rash of kidnappings shows it is failing in this objective. In a region already desperately short of doctors and other medical staff, many healthcare workers are now reportedly considering giving up their vital work in the face of the imminent risk to their lives. Some aid organisations say they might also withdraw if the abductions continue.
None of this matters, it seems, to those happy to exploit the vulnerable and the desperate in order to further their own ends. Once again, it is Syria’s ordinary, innocent civilians – men, women and one million children who have already been through so much – who will pay the price for a cynical display of the darker side of human nature.
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 3 (Sterling 46', De Bruyne 65', Gundogan 70')
Aston Villa 0
Red card: Fernandinho (Manchester City)
Man of the Match: Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Bahrain GP
Friday qualifying: 7pm (8pm UAE)
Saturday race: 7pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
SPECS
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder turbo and 3.6-litre V6
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 235hp and 310hp
Torque: 258Nm and 271Nm
Price: From Dh185,100
'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'
Rating: 1 out of 4
Running time: 81 minutes
Director: David Blue Garcia
Starring: Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Mark Burnham
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Clara
Started: 2019
Founders: Patrick Rogers, Lee McMahon, Arthur Guest, Ahmed Arif
Based: Dubai
Industry: LegalTech
Funding size: $4 million of seed financing
Investors: Wamda Capital, Shorooq Partners, Techstars, 500 Global, OTF, Venture Souq, Knuru Capital, Plug and Play and The LegalTech Fund
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
Company Profile
Company name: Hoopla
Date started: March 2023
Founder: Jacqueline Perrottet
Based: Dubai
Number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Investment required: $500,000
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
TWISTERS
Director:+Lee+Isaac+Chung
Starring:+Glen+Powell,+Daisy+Edgar-Jones,+Anthony+Ramos
Rating:+2.5/5
Company Profile
Name: HyveGeo
Started: 2023
Founders: Abdulaziz bin Redha, Dr Samsurin Welch, Eva Morales and Dr Harjit Singh
Based: Cambridge and Dubai
Number of employees: 8
Industry: Sustainability & Environment
Funding: $200,000 plus undisclosed grant
Investors: Venture capital and government
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Klipit
Started: 2022
Founders: Venkat Reddy, Mohammed Al Bulooki, Bilal Merchant, Asif Ahmed, Ovais Merchant
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Digital receipts, finance, blockchain
Funding: $4 million
Investors: Privately/self-funded
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
KLOPP AT LIVERPOOL
Years: October 2015 - June 2024
Total games: 491
Win percentage: 60.9%
Major trophies: 6 (Premier League x 1, Champions League x 1, FA Cup x 1, League Cup x 2, Fifa Club World Cup x1)
The Bio
Favourite holiday destination: Either Kazakhstan or Montenegro. I’ve been involved in events in both countries and they are just stunning.
Favourite book: I am a huge of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, which I suppose is quite apt right now. My mother introduced me to them back home in New Zealand.
Favourite film or television programme: Forrest Gump is my favourite film, that’s never been up for debate. I love watching repeats of Mash as well.
Inspiration: My late father moulded me into the man I am today. I would also say disappointment and sadness are great motivators. There are times when events have brought me to my knees but it has also made me determined not to let them get the better of me.