On October 12, 2025, the governorates of Latakia and Tartous, along with parts of the Al-Ghab Plain in rural Hama, witnessed a massive student strike as most school students refused to attend classes. The strike comes in solidarity with the case of the kidnapped child, Mohammad Qais Haidar, and as a protest against the worsening security situation in the region.

From the early morning hours, Tartous streets appeared almost deserted, with barely any traffic movement as the official workday began. Many schools remained closed, and there was a near-total absence of students and teachers, reflecting the scale of the strike.

The Kidnapping of Mohammad Qais Haidar

Mohammad Qais Haidar, a 13-year-old schoolboy, was abducted in broad daylight several days ago while on his way to school in the city of Latakia.
According to eyewitnesses, four armed men in a private vehicle intercepted him and took him to an unknown location, in an incident that has deeply shocked the public and sparked outrage across the coastal region.

Days after the kidnapping, no official statement or credible information has been released by the authorities regarding the boy’s whereabouts or the identity of his abductors, fueling widespread anger and frustration among residents.

Expanding Protests and Rising Demands

What began as small-scale school walkouts quickly expanded into a broader movement across Latakia, Tartous, and parts of the Al-Ghab Plain.
Students and teachers alike expressed their rejection of the silence from officials and the growing sense of insecurity in their communities.

Social media has been flooded with calls to continue the strike until the child’s fate is revealed and the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Many posts carried the same message:

“Security is not a privilege — it’s a basic right for every child.”

Empty Streets and a Message of Defiance

In Tartous this morning, the scenes were striking — empty streets, idle buses, and half-open shops.
One local resident described the mood:

“People no longer feel safe. Kidnapping children has become a terrifying reality. We all stopped everything today so they would finally listen.”

This unprecedented act of protest in Syria’s coastal region sends a clear message: public anger has reached a breaking point, and the demand this time is simple — safety and justice.