Advocates demand justice for individuals missing in Syria, emphasizing the public’s right to know their fate.
Syria is observing its inaugural International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances in the wake of significant political changes following the transition from former President Bashar al-Assad’s leadership. As the nation grapples with the ongoing ramifications of its civil war, families are left seeking answers about the thousands who have vanished during this turbulent period.
In a report released by the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) to mark this solemn occasion, the organization highlighted a notable increase in reported cases of enforced disappearances since the change in governance last December. Following the ousting of al-Assad, families have surged to former detention centers, prisons, morgues, and mass grave sites to locate their missing loved ones. With newfound access to governmental documents, eyewitness accounts, and human remains, investigators are uncovering the depths of this tragedy.
The report asserts that upwards of 177,057 individuals, comprising 4,536 children and 8,984 women, have been forcibly disappeared in Syria since March 2011. It places over 90% of the responsibility for these cases squarely on the prior regime’s policies. The SNHR emphasized that the past administration systematically utilized enforced disappearances as a means of instilling fear within society and collectively punishing dissenters and civilians alike from diverse backgrounds.
This year’s commemoration holds additional weight as it comes on the heels of the establishment of a new Syrian government led by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. On this significant occasion, al-Sharaa has committed to confronting the challenges posed by enforced disappearances, having already enacted a presidential decree in May that created a National Commission for Transitional Justice and a National Commission for Missing Persons (NCMP). These bodies are dedicated to investigating accountability, providing reparations, and fostering national reconciliation.
Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the government’s commitment to prioritizing the issue of enforced disappearances, asserting that resolution can only be achieved through justice for victims and the restoration of dignity for their families. The head of the NCMP, Mohammad Reda Jalkhi, expressed the urgent need for thorough investigations to alleviate the suffering of families who are still awaiting news of the missing.
Human rights advocates have cautiously welcomed the Syrian government’s initial steps involving the NCMP but insist on the necessity of its independence and the provision of essential resources for effective operation. Kristine Beckerle, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, underscored the pressing need for a commitment to truth, justice, and reparations within the new regime.
On a broader humanitarian front, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has articulated that the absence of a family member constitutes not only a personal devastation but an enduring wound inflicted by the Syrian conflict. Their call for unwavering support and compassion for these families emphasizes a humanitarian principle—their inherent right to know what has happened to their loved ones.
In this context, an interactive initiative known as “Syria’s Prison Museum” was launched, inviting citizens to share narratives of their experiences regarding detentions in locations such as the notorious Sednaya prison. This platform aims to provide both a memorial and a forensic archive, supporting the aspiration for accountability within the new Syrian sociopolitical landscape.
As the world grapples with the intricacies of memory, justice, and the quest for truth, Syria stands at a pivotal moment, poised for forward movement amidst the longstanding shadows of its past.
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