Justice and Truth: A Relative’s Fight Against Enforced Disappearance in Syria

Obeida Dabbagh has shared the pain of seeking justice after his brother Mazen and nephew Patrick were tortured and murdered by the Assad regime during Syria’s civil war. They were held without charge and falsely declared dead by the government. Dabbagh’s legal efforts aim for accountability for war crimes and emphasize the importance of fighting against impunity on a global scale.

A relative of two Syrians who were tortured and murdered by the Assad regime has expressed profound anguish over their enforced disappearance during Syria’s civil war. Obeida Dabbagh reported that his brother Mazen and nephew Patrick, both Syrian-French nationals, were arrested by Air Force Intelligence officials in November 2013. Despite being held and tortured for years, they were falsely declared dead in 2018, years after their disappearance, as Dabbagh shared with the Committee on Enforced Disappearances at the UN Office in Geneva.

Dabbagh emphasized that both his uncle and nephew were not participants in the peaceful protests against President Bashar al-Assad, which were violently suppressed by mass arrests, torture, and widespread human rights violations. He revealed that the regime not only inflicted torture and executions but also extorted money from his family, promising information in exchange for exorbitant sums before forcing Mazen’s wife and daughter out of their home in Damascus.

Dabbagh articulated that this pursuit of justice transcends his family’s experience, signifying a universal battle against impunity for war crimes. His legal actions aim not only for justice for Mazen and Patrick but also to contribute to the global effort against the atrocities perpetrated by the Syrian regime. Before their arrests, Mazen was an educator at a French college, while Patrick was studying psychology at Damascus University.

The struggle for justice in Syria prominently features the story of Obeida Dabbagh and his search for truth following the enforced disappearance of his relatives. His family’s legal actions reflect broader themes of accountability and the fight against impunity in the context of war crimes. As highlighted by international bodies, maintaining evidence and safeguarding human rights are crucial for future initiatives towards justice in Syria. The matter of enforced disappearances continues to resonate within the international community, underscoring the need for vigilance and action against such violations.

Original Source: news.un.org