Searching for Syria’s Disappeared – The New York Times

Taher al-Zain has come to this hospital within the Syrian capital searching for his father, Mohamed. The lawyer and father of 5 disappeared 12 years in the past and is one in all tens of 1000’s of Syrians who went lacking throughout the nation’s civil struggle. 1000’s of political prisoners have been let out throughout Syria for the reason that regime of President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown on Dec. 8. Ahmed Abu Seif was one in all them. As our bodies of those that died in jail are recovered, they’re taken to hospitals across the nation. Taher inspects pictures of the deceased on the wall, searching for an indication of his father. Among the many crowd are supporters of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the insurgent group that’s now answerable for a lot of the nation. Taher’s remaining cease is the notorious Sednaya jail on the outskirts of Damascus. 1000’s of persons are believed to have been executed and tortured right here through the years. Taher and others have come on daily basis to seek 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 part, the households of the disappeared really feel trapped up to now. With out solutions, they proceed to search for their family members and for closure.