Syrians flock to morgues looking for loved ones who perished in Assad's prisons
Syrians flock to morgues looking for loved ones who perished in Assad's prisons
Many bodies have been found in Syrian detention centers and prisons since President Bashar al-Assad's government fell.
Summary
Following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government, Syrians are flocking to morgues to search for loved ones who died in the regime’s brutal prison system.
Families are identifying bodies marked by torture, starvation, and execution, many retrieved from infamous prisons like Saydnaya.
Assad’s rule saw at least 150,000 people detained or disappeared since 2011, with reports of systematic torture and mass executions.
Forensic workers face overwhelming numbers as relatives mourn and demand answers, highlighting the regime’s devastating legacy of repression and human suffering.
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Habbal, a Syrian who had been living in Saudi Arabia since 2003, returned to Damascus in mid-2024 to visit his family, his brother said. He was arrested by the Syrian military police six months ago on charges of evading military service.
With trembling hands, Imad Habbal lifted the covering, his voice breaking as he wept and spoke to his brother.
“I told you not to come,” he said. “I wish you didn’t come.”
Heartbreaking.