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On 24 September 2012, Mr Youssef's relatives noticed that they were no longer able to reach him by phone. Since this day, they have tried both official and unofficial channels to establish his fate and whereabouts. They were initially told by an official that he was arrested the same day at a checkpoint in Al Muhajireen District, Damascus and taken to the General Intelligence's Al Jeba Branch (also called "Branch No. 41") in Al Salhiye District, before being transferred to the General Intelligence's Al Khateeb detention centre in Damascus.
More recently, in early April 2013, released detainees reported that Mr Youssef had been seen at the Beginners' Training Centre close to Najhah on the highway to Damascus airport, which is under the control of the Air Force Intelligence, and was reportedly tortured.
To date, Hussam's family could not get any official information to confirm these new concerning developments. As the Syrian authorities still refuse to acknowledge his detention, he remains disappeared and at high risk of being tortured.
On 25 July 2013, Alkarama asked the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances to intervene with the Syrian authorities regarding Mr Youssef's situation. The authorities must respect their international human rights obligations by releasing him immediately or placing him under the protection of the law.