Looking for Lacking in Syria – The New York Instances

Taher al-Zein got here to this hospital within the Syrian capital in quest of his father, Mohammed. The lawyer and father of 5 disappeared 12 years in the past and is one in every of tens of hundreds of Syrians who’ve gone lacking through the nation’s civil warfare. 1000’s of political prisoners have been launched throughout Syria after the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8. Ahmed Abu Seif was one in every of them. Because the our bodies of those that died in jail are recovered, they’re taken to hospitals throughout the nation. Taher seems to be on the footage of the deceased on the wall, searching for a hint of his father. Among the many crowd are supporters of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, the insurgent group that now controls a lot of the nation. Taher’s final cease is the notorious Sednaya jail on the outskirts of Damascus. 1000’s of individuals are believed to have been executed and tortured right here over time. Taher and others come on daily basis to seek for proof of their lacking family members within the remnants of jail paperwork left behind by the previous authorities. As Syria enters a brand new and unsure section, the households of the disappeared really feel trapped by the previous. With no solutions, they proceed to seek for their family members and closure.