Searching for Syria’s Disappeared – The New York Times

Taher al-Zain has come to this hospital within the Syrian capital in quest of his father, Mohamed. The lawyer and father of 5 disappeared 12 years in the past and is one among tens of 1000’s of Syrians who went lacking in the course of the nation’s civil battle. Thousands of political prisoners have been let out throughout Syria because the regime of President Bashar Al-Assad was overthrown on December 8. Ahmed Abu Seif was one among them. As our bodies of those that died in jail are recovered, they’re taken to hospitals across the nation. Taher inspects photographs of the deceased on the wall, wanting for an indication of his father. Among the group are supporters of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, the insurgent group that’s now in charge of a lot of the nation. Taher’s closing cease is the notorious Sednaya jail on the outskirts of Damascus. Thousands of individuals are believed to have been executed and tortured right here over time. Taher and others have come day by day to look for proof of their lacking family members within the scraps of jail paperwork the previous authorities left behind. As Syria enters a brand new and unsure section, the households of the disappeared really feel trapped up to now. Without solutions, they proceed to look for their family members and for closure.