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 considered one of tens of hundreds of Syrians who went lacking throughout the nation’s civil struggle. Hundreds of political prisoners have been let loose throughout Syria for the reason that regime of President Bashar Al-Assad was overthrown on December 8. Ahmed Abu Seif was considered one of 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, in search of an indication of his father. Among the many crowd are supporters of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, the insurgent group that’s now in command of a lot of the nation. Taher’s ultimate cease is the notorious Sednaya jail on the outskirts of Damascus. Hundreds of individuals are believed to have been executed and tortured right here through the years. Taher and others have come each day 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 section, the households of the disappeared really feel trapped prior to now. With out solutions, they proceed to search for their family members and for closure.