Thaer al-Najjar and his family had been looking for his brother Imad for 13 years, since his arrest by the security forces of Syria’s former Assad regime in 2012. Despite multiple trips to a notorious prison outside Damascus after the regime was toppled in December 2024, they found no trace of him. Imad, a peaceful protester, was confirmed dead through a leaked Assad regime document received by Najjar, bringing him to tears.
The leaked “Damascus dossier” contains 134,000 Syrian security and intelligence records, including 70,000 gruesome images of torture victims. The documents shed light on the regime’s systematic torture and execution of thousands of citizens during the 13-year civil war. Families like Najjar’s, seeking closure on the fate of their missing loved ones, find solace in finally knowing the truth.
The records, compiled by a former Syrian officer, have been shared with German authorities and NGOs, aiding in potential criminal investigations against Assad regime officials. The images, meticulously cataloged, reveal the extent of brutality endured by detainees, providing concrete evidence for accountability. The discovery offers closure for families like al-Hamada’s, whose activist relative’s body was found after years of uncertainty.