A mass grave discovered near Damascus could hold up to 100,000 bodies, exposing the horrific scale of atrocities committed by the Assad regime in Syria.
At a Glance
- A massive grave containing potentially 100,000 bodies was found 25 miles north of Damascus.
- The site reveals evidence of torture, executions, and human rights abuses by the Assad regime.
- Syria’s new interim government vows to bring those responsible to justice.
- International assistance is needed to preserve and document evidence.
- Over 100,000 people are still missing, believed to have disappeared into Assad’s security apparatus.
Uncovering the Horrors of Assad’s Regime
As the dust settles on the 14-year conflict that saw Bashar al-Assad ousted from power on December 8, authorities are now uncovering evidence of alleged abuses by the Assad regime in Syria. The discovery of a massive grave with potentially over 100,000 bodies, located 25 miles north of Damascus in the al-Qutayfah region, has sent shockwaves through the international community.
The Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) has been at the forefront of these grim discoveries. Mouaz Moustafa, a representative of SETF, provided chilling details about the extent of the atrocities. “SETF believes it has identified three other ‘mass graves’ so far, as well as two ‘smaller ones,'” Moustafa stated.
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The Extent of the Atrocities
The al-Qutayfah site near Damascus contains trenches 6-7 meters deep, 3-4 meters wide, and 50-150 meters long. Gravediggers reported that bodies were transported in trucks and buried from 2012 to 2018. Moustafa recounted, “In my conversation with the gravediggers, they told me that four tractor trailer trucks each carrying over 150 bodies came twice a week from 2012 until 2018.”
The graves contained victims tortured to death by Assad’s regime, including men, women, children, and the elderly. Human bones were found in bags with Farsi writing, indicating possible foreign involvement. The site was under military control, with nearby villas housing Iranian and Iraqi allies of Assad, while Syria’s Air Force Intelligence maintained a presence near the burial site.
Calls for Justice and International Assistance
The new Syrian interim government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, has pledged to bring those responsible for these atrocities to justice. “We will not hesitate to hold accountable the criminals, murderers, security and army officers involved in torturing the Syrian people,” al-Sharaa declared. The interim government is calling for international assistance to ensure the preservation and documentation of critical evidence.
Professor Ugur Umit Ungor emphasized the importance of handling the graves professionally and creating a DNA depository for identification. This effort aims to deliver justice and provide closure to the countless families affected by these egregious acts. Over 100,000 people are still missing, believed to have disappeared into Assad’s security apparatus during his 24-year rule.
As the world watches, the Syrian people are hopeful that this dark chapter in their history will finally come to a close, and those responsible for these heinous crimes will be held accountable. The discovery of these mass graves serves as a grim reminder of the brutality of the Assad regime and the long road to justice that lies ahead for Syria.
Sources:
- Syrians uncovering ‘massive’ graves could find 100,000 bodies, NGO says
- At least 100,000 bodies in Syrian mass grave, US advocacy group head says
- Mass grave found near Syria’s capital could contain 100,000 bodies
