‘We all have someone missing’: Families of the thousands of Syrians ‘disappeared’ by Assad regime share stories of loss
10 February 2025
By Human Rights
Families of the thousands of Syrians who have been forcibly disappeared by the Assad regime have shared their stories of loss and pain.
In a new report, Human Rights has documented the cases of more than 100,000 people who have disappeared since the start of the conflict in Syria.
The report reveals that the regime has used disappearances as a weapon of war, targeting political activists, journalists, human rights defenders, and anyone else perceived as a threat.
The families of the disappeared live in constant fear and uncertainty. They do not know if their loved ones are alive or dead. They do not know if they will ever see them again.
“We all have someone missing,” said one woman who lost her husband in 2013. “It’s like a part of you is missing. You’re never the same again.”
The regime has refused to cooperate with the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria, which has been investigating the disappearances. The commission has concluded that the regime is responsible for the vast majority of disappearances in Syria.
The families of the disappeared are calling for an independent international investigation into the disappearances. They want to know what happened to their loved ones and they want those responsible to be held accountable.
“We will never give up hope of finding our loved ones,” said one mother who lost her son in 2015. “We will never stop fighting for justice.”
Personal Stories
The report includes the personal stories of a number of families who have been affected by the disappearances.
One family told how their son was arrested at a government checkpoint in 2012. He was never seen again.
Another family told how their daughter was abducted by a group of men in civilian clothes. She was taken to a secret detention center, where she was tortured and interrogated. She was eventually released, but she has never been the same since.
The families of the disappeared are living in a state of constant pain and uncertainty. They do not know if their loved ones are alive or dead. They do not know if they will ever see them again.
The impact of disappearances
The disappearances have had a devastating impact on the families of the victims. They have lost their loved ones and they have lost their hope.
The disappearances have also had a chilling effect on Syrian society. People are afraid to speak out against the regime for fear of being disappeared themselves.
The disappearances are a war crime. They are a crime against humanity. The Assad regime must be held accountable for these crimes.
The call for action
The families of the disappeared are calling for an independent international investigation into the disappearances. They want to know what happened to their loved ones and they want those responsible to be held accountable.
They are also calling for the release of all political prisoners in Syria.
The international community must not stand idly by while the Assad regime continues to commit these crimes. The world must act to end the disappearances and to hold the regime accountable.
‘We all have someone missing’: Families of the thousands of Syrians ‘disappeared’ by Assad regime share stories of loss
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