Post-Civil War Discoveries in Syria: Unearthing "The Missing"
Remains of over 200,000 individuals, known as "The Missing," are being discovered across Syria following the 13-year civil war and the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024. These tragic finds are emerging from various locations, including fields, wells, and underneath abandoned houses.
Many of these disappearances occurred between 2011 and 2024, with individuals taken by a multitude of actors: Syria's secret police, intelligence services, regime-affiliated groups, rebel factions, or the Islamic State.
Forensic Investigations Intensify
Ammar al-Salmo, founder and director of the forensic investigation team for the White Helmets rescue organisation, has reported a significant increase in discoveries of human remains since the regime's collapse. His teams have documented 88 sites, including 83 mass graves, over a 14-month period.
Investigation efforts are complicated by methods used by the former regime, such as burning bodies with car tires in locations like Damascus, Homs, and Aleppo, which often leaves only small, crushed bone fragments.
Individual Accounts of Enduring Loss
For many, the discovery of remains reopens old wounds and offers faint hope for closure. Mahmoud al-Akesh identified his brother-in-law and other family members among the "Caesar files," a chilling collection of photos and documents leaked by a regime defector. These files documented severe torture, including the gouging out of eyes, indicating prolonged suffering before death for prisoners. Mr. al-Akesh's brothers and brother-in-law were captured and subsequently died in Sednaya prison; he located between 60 to 70 family and friends within the Caesar files.
Bernadette Hallak's husband, Bassam, a civil engineer, was seized by regime security agents. Officials provided her with an arbitrary death certificate containing incorrect details, and his remains were never returned. Ms. Hallak continues to seek her husband's remains and advocates tirelessly for DNA testing.
Recovery and Identification Efforts Begin
Syria's transitional government has established a new National Commission For The Missing to investigate cases, coordinate with transitional justice groups, liaise with families, and secure mass graves.
The Commission faces formidable challenges, including limited financial resources, establishing offices, hiring staff, and building a central database. Mahmoud Aswad, an advisory board member, stated that the process of gathering information, DNA samples, and matching remains would be lengthy and arduous.
In a significant step, lawyer Ammar Abara recovered over 4,000 names of prisoners, including many recorded as executed, from Sednaya prison records after its liberation. The future of Sednaya prison, known for its unspeakable atrocities, is now under debate, with options including demolition or conversion into a memorial.
Towards Justice and Peace
The White Helmets have initiated crucial training for workers and volunteers in site investigation, body recovery, and forensic and anthropological analysis, aided by international volunteers.
Addressing the fate of the missing is considered a fundamental step for Syria's recovery, with justice identified as essential for building lasting peace.