Ten months after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December, Syria is still unearthing the tragic remnants of his rule. In villages across the country, mass graves are being discovered, containing the skeletal remains of those who vanished during the brutal civil war. In al-Otaiba village, a shepherd’s discovery of clothing and human remains led authorities to a site believed to hold up to 175 bodies, bulldozed into a single grave.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights estimates that over 181,000 people were forcibly disappeared or arbitrarily detained during the 14-year conflict, with the vast majority attributed to the Assad regime. Families of the missing are now coming forward, sharing their harrowing experiences and demanding justice from the new Syrian leadership.
Kasim Hamami, whose brother Samer disappeared at the age of 21, described the painful process of finding fragments of his brother’s life, like a worn jumper, at a mass grave site. Samer, a newlywed civilian, was reportedly taken due to hunger and the regime’s blockade. His three nephews, who left with him, met the same fate. The video evidence of the convoy’s ambush, filmed by the attackers, shows a horrific scene of landmines and bullets, contradicting the regime’s claim that the victims were fighters.
Survivors, like Bilal, a nurse who narrowly escaped the massacre, are now speaking out. He recounts the screams of the wounded and the cold-blooded killings, emphasizing the need for accountability for those responsible. Meanwhile, the new Syrian leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has pledged to make the issue of the missing a “national priority.” However, the journey for justice is long and arduous, with many families still waiting for answers, for truth, or for the chance to finally bury their loved ones.
In “Truth Tents” and village halls across Syria, women gather to share their stories. Mothers, wives, and daughters hold up photographs of their disappeared husbands, fathers, and sons, their voices a chorus of pain and a demand for retribution. Bisan, who lost her father at age four, recounted the terrifying moment he was taken at gunpoint. Another woman cried out for Bashar al-Assad to be executed, believing that only by removing the “head of the snake” can Syria heal.
Najwa, whose husband was taken in 2014, urged families to remain patient and persistent, acknowledging that healing and justice will not come overnight. Mohammed, a father who lost his son to state security, voiced the frustration of many, stating that talk is insufficient without action and that those responsible must face trial. The newly established National Commission for Missing Persons faces significant challenges, including a lack of resources and only one DNA laboratory in the entire country.
As Syria navigates its post-conflict future, the wounds of the past remain raw. The search for truth and justice for the missing is a long and painful process, with many families facing years of waiting for closure.