15 April – 6 May 2011
Dr. Hallak visited USA for the first time to attend a medical conference in Miami, Florida. He was a famous doctor in his city, Aleppo, and he and his family never been involved in politics and didn’t participate in any protest or meeting against the Syrian regime
Wednesday 25 May 11:30 PM
Security agents arrested Dr. Hallak on his way back from his office
Thursday morning 26.05.2011: Dr. Sakhr called a friend of his informing him he was taken into custudy by the “Syrian intelligence” and that he is being interrogated about his latest visit to the USA. He also informed him that he is doing good and that he will be realease in a matter of few days.
The friend visited Dr. Sakhr in bureau of Syrian intelligence where the doctor was detained and informs Dr. Sakhr’s family that he’s in good shape.
Dr. Sakhr’s wife called the parliament member Adnan Al-Skhneh who confirmed the arrest and promised Dr. Sakhr’s wife he will work towards his fast release. Dr. Sakhr’s assistent, a nurse, called one of Dr. Sakhr’s patients who is in direct contact with high ranking officials in the capital. He returned back to her informing her that he is in the Syrian intelligence custudy due to an intelligence report implicating Dr. Sakhr who is now in “a big trouble”. He promised he will try to obtain more information and return back to her.
Friday Morning 27.05.2011: The syrian Intelligence officers met the wife and the daughter of Dr. Sakhr and assure them about the state of Dr. Sakhr’s health, and informed them that he will be released by Saturday.
Friday 18:00 27.05.2011: The corps of the doctor, carrying signs of recent death and torture, appeared (was found) (surfaced) in a channel in an abandonned area in a town called AlSafirah 20 Km away to the south of Aleppo.
Saturday May 28: intelligence told the doctor’s wife over the phone that he stopped at the court to sign some papers and he must be on his way back home. Medical office for criminal investigations called the family at night to tell them a body that might be of Dr Sakhr is at the morgue. After the family checked it, it indeed turned out to be the body of Dr Sakhr. The body examination showed he was tortured, head traumatized, eyes and genitals disfigured, ribs broken, and signs of shoes all over his body. Choking is the cause of death as the signs of a rope on his finger indicate he tried to take it off his neck. Signs on his wrists indicate he was chained. Intelligence is not allowing for the full medical report, day and time of death to be released, denies they detained Dr Sakhr and claims they found him dead on the street.
Sunday May 29: intelligence delivered the body in the evening. The body was wrapped with medical cloth making it look like a mummy, face and feet exposed, eyes closed. Family was not allowed to accompany the body which was constantly accompanied by two intelligence officers. The officers prevented others from taking photos and only allowed 200 people to attend the funeral. The coffin was transported via intelligence car to the graveyard where burrial took place under intelligence supervision. Intelligence first claimed Dr Sakhr was killed by Mossad, they then accused the opposition to eventually say it was the nurse. They also confiscated all cameras at his office and detained the nurse as they charged her of theft rather than murder.