ERBIL () - Hasakah Governor Noureddin Ahmed on Friday strongly condemned the killing of Sami Sheikhmous Hasso and said security and judicial authorities had been ordered to urgently pursue and arrest everyone responsible for the crime.
In a statement issued on Sept. 11, Ahmed described the killing as a grave violation of human, moral and legal principles and stressed that the protection of residents throughout Hasakah province remained a responsibility of the state.
"With profound sorrow, we condemn in the strongest possible terms the heinous crime that claimed the life of Sami Sheikhmous Haso,"the governor said.
He described the killing as "an assault on public security and the sanctity of citizens' lives."
The Hasakah governorate also extended its condolences to Hasso's family and relatives.
"The lives of all the governorate's people and citizens are inviolable,"the statement said. "Protecting their security and lives is the responsibility of the state, and no negligence in this regard will be tolerated."
Ahmed said security agencies and judicial authorities had been instructed to treat the case as an urgent priority and arrest both the perpetrators and anyone else found to have been involved.
Those detained would be referred to the courts and face punishment in accordance with the law, he said.
Investigation and Search for Suspects
The governor's statement followed an earlier announcement by Hasakah's Internal Security Forces that Hasso's body had been discovered after an investigation into his abduction.
reported earlier Friday that intelligence information and video footage documenting the abduction led security forces to deploy forensic teams and specialized personnel from the Serê Kaniyê Security Directorate.
Following an expanded search and field inspections, Hasso's body was found near the village of Hilu.
According to the Internal Security Forces, preliminary examination indicated that he had been shot several times at close range and died at the scene.
Security authorities said evidence gathered during the investigation had led them to identify the main suspect by the initials M. A.
A search operation was continuing to locate and arrest the suspect and bring him before the competent court after completion of the required legal procedures.
The Internal Security Forces did not publicly provide a motive for the killing in the information supplied.
Syrian Deputy Defense Minister Sipan Hamo also condemned Hasso's killing Friday and called on residents to remain calm and avoid actions that could worsen tensions.
Hamo described the killing as a "brutal crime"and said Hasso had served as a fighter with the Hasakah Brigade, contributing for years to the security and protection of the area and its residents.
"With a heart full of grief and sorrow, I extend my condolences and deepest sympathy to the family of martyr Sipan (Sami Sheikhmous Hasso), who was martyred as a result of a brutal crime,"Hamo said.
He also warned against media rhetoric that could encourage violence or deepen unrest.
Hamo urged all sides to exercise restraint and avoid attempts to spread discord or chaos while authorities continued their investigation.
He said several suspects had already been arrested in connection with the case and that efforts were continuing to identify and detain everyone involved.
Governor Vows to Protect Public Security
Ahmed's statement placed particular emphasis on the responsibility of state institutions to prevent the killing from developing into a broader security problem.
He said authorities would not allow individuals or groups to undermine public safety or threaten social peace in the governorate.
The governor also emphasized that accountability would be pursued through legal institutions.
The rule of law, he said, would remain the decisive principle in dealing with anyone who commits crimes against residents of Hasakah.
His comments echoed calls by security officials for restraint as investigations continue.
Authorities have so far presented the case as an active criminal investigation, with security forces pursuing suspects and judicial bodies expected to handle any prosecutions.
No final judicial finding regarding responsibility for Hasso's death has yet been announced.
The immediate focus remains on locating the principal suspect identified by security forces, determining whether others participated in the abduction and killing, and referring those accused to the appropriate judicial authorities.
For Hasakah's administration, Ahmed said the case was also a test of the state's responsibility to protect citizens regardless of their background.
His statement stressed that public security and the protection of residents' lives were not negotiable and that authorities intended to respond through investigation, arrest and prosecution rather than allow the case to fuel wider instability.
