The Syrian armed opposition has been carrying out serious human rights abuses, including kidnapping, detention, and torture of security force members and government supporters, report by Human Rights Watch revealed.

The Syrian armed opposition has been carrying out serious human rights abuses, including kidnapping, detention, and torture of security force members and government supporters, a report by Human Rights Watch revealed.

The organization said it has received reports of executions by armed opposition groups of security force members and civilians, calling on the “leaders of Syrian opposition groups to condemn and forbid their members from carrying out abuses”.

Human Rights Watch also indicated that “some of the statements collected suggest that certain armed attacks by opposition groups were motivated by anti-Shia or anti-Alawite sentiments,” adding that the tactics adopted by the government do not justify the opposition’s abuses.

Moreover, the report said that “Syria’s opposition leadership has a responsibility to speak out and condemn such abuses,” reassuring that “everyone in the custody of the FSA and other opposition forces, including members of the Syrian security forces... should be treated humanely in accordance with international human rights standards.”