Exciting New Video: The Quest for Syria’s Missing Persons
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The Search for Syria’s Vanished Individuals
Taher al-Zain’s father vanished 12 years ago during Bashar al-Assad’s reign. Now, alongside numerous other Syrians, he is on a mission to uncover the truth about his father’s disappearance and whether there is hope that he may still be alive.
Taher al-Zain has arrived at a hospital in the Syrian capital to seek information about his missing father, Mohamed. A lawyer and a father of five, Mohamed disappeared over a decade ago and is among the many Syrians who went missing during the civil war in their country. Following President Bashar al-Assad’s regime overthrow on Dec. 8th, thousands of political detainees have been released across Syria. One of them was Ahmed Abu Seif. As bodies of deceased prisoners are found, they are brought to hospitals nationwide for identification purposes. Taher scans through photos of these deceased individuals on display in search of any trace of his father. Amidst the crowd are supporters of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the rebel group now controlling significant parts of Syria. Taher’s final destination is Sednaya prison on Damascus’ outskirts – infamous for its history of executions and torture over the years. Every day, Taher and others visit this site to sift through scraps of prison documents left behind by the former government in hopes of finding clues about their missing loved ones. As Syria transitions into an uncertain future, families with missing members feel stuck in their pasts – relentlessly seeking answers and closure.
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2024-12-14 14:39:42
Originally published on www.nytimes.com