Members of the Political Security Branch of the Syrian regime arrested 4 soccer players in the capital, Damascus, last night, in order to impose compulsory conscription on them.
Activists told “Global Justice Syria News” that security patrols raided in the middle of the night a hotel in Damascus where the arrested players belonged to the team, where they stayed before a match for them in the futsal championship.
The sources indicated that the players are Wissam Jamoul, Muhannad al-Jabai, Gebran Mazhar and Mahmoud Hassan, and they hail from As-Suwayda governorate.
The sources confirmed that the Syrian regime forces accused the four players of failing to complete the compulsory and reserve military service.
Clerics and notables from the As-Suwayda governorate tried to mediate with the Syrian regime to release the four players, but their efforts failed, as the Political Security Branch refused to release them.
This raid and the arrest of the four players affected the psyche of the rest of the team, as it suffered a loss in the next day’s match due to the players’ dispersion and lack of focus, amid news of the club’s intention to withdraw from the tournament.