Syria's tumultuous landscape now bears somber witness to its dark history as civil defense workers uncovered two mass graves in rural Damascus. The grim discovery, made on a recent Tuesday, revealed at least 26 charred and skeletal remains, believed to be victims of Bashar Assad's draconian governance.
The effort by Syria’s White Helmets, a dedicated volunteer civil defense group, involved meticulous work to exhume and document fragmented remains from two basements in the town of Sbeneh, located southwest of the capital. Clad in protective suits, the teams categorized and prepared the remains for further examination, marking a painful addition to the haunting legacy of mass graves.
According to Abed al-Rahman Mawwas of the White Helmets, since late November, over 780 bodies have surfaced through combined efforts of the rescue groups and local communities. Mawwas highlighted the daunting task of identifying these remains, a process anticipated to extend over years, as they work to reconnect them with possible families, determining their identities and the circumstances of their deaths.
The Assad regime, infamous for its use of airstrikes, torture, and coercive tactics over its two-decade rule, left an oppressive mark characterized by fear and suppression during the Syrian civil war's tragic saga. Residents like Mohammad al-Herafe recall returning to their homes post-conflict only to be met with the overwhelming odor of decay, fearful of the consequences of reporting such discoveries.
Civil Defense member Ammar al-Salmo accentuated the need for community testimonies to aid investigations in identifying the victims, many of whom were civilians caught amidst heightened conflict and besieged conditions in 2013. Mohammad Shebat, another local resident, described the grim fate of those trapped and victimized during the brutal military campaigns executed during Assad’s efforts to subdue dissent.
“They would trap people in basements, burn them with tires, and leave their bodies behind,” Shebat recounts, addressing the severity of the atrocities witnessed over the years.
The United Nations Syria Commission of Inquiry underscores the significance of these mass graves in potentially unraveling the unsolved fates of countless missing detainees. Drawing from over fourteen years of investigation and numerous testimonials, their recent report unveils a culture of systematic torture that prevailed in detention centers across the nation.
In light of Assad's toppling, many Syrian families found themselves amidst sorrowful searches through prisons and morgues, yearning for closure on the whereabouts of missing relatives. The intricate process of forensic exhumations and archiving evidence stands as a beacon of hope for those still awaiting answers.
Commissioner Lynn Welchman emphasizes that for those who did not rejoice in the release of their loved ones, the collected evidence and survivor testimonies may offer the best chance for truth and reconciliation. Formed in 2011 by the UN Human Rights Council, the commission continues to document the severe abuses endured during Assad's harsh regime, advocating for justice and transparency in post-conflict Syria.
