The scope and nature of Assad's crimes | DW News

Key Concepts

• Assad Regime's Documentation of Torture and Death: The Syrian regime systematically documented the torture and killing of detainees, creating a "killing machine" with a pseudo-legal process to legitimize their actions.
• Military Police Archive: A large archive of approximately 700,000 photos, taken by a Syrian military police colonel between 2015 and 2024, reveals the scale and systematic nature of these crimes.
• Colonel's Testimony and Motivation: A high-ranking military police colonel, who defected and secured the archive, provided testimony about the regime's methods and his role in documenting them. He claimed to be following orders but also acted to preserve the evidence.
• Verification of Images: The images were verified by experts in Germany, who confirmed their authenticity and the horrific nature of the depicted torture.
• Purpose of Torture: Initially used for information extraction, torture evolved into a weapon of terror against the Syrian population after the revolution.
• Victim Identification and Family Closure: The investigation aimed to identify victims and provide closure to families by sharing extracted names and codes with international organizations and Syrian NGOs.
• Pursuit of Justice: The evidence gathered is intended to aid justice systems in Europe in holding Assad and his officers accountable.

The Assad Regime's Systematic Documentation of Crimes

This report details an investigation into a vast archive of photos, numbering around 700,000, that document the systematic torture and murder of detainees under the rule of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The images, secured by a Syrian military police colonel after the fall of Damascus, provide chilling evidence of the regime's brutal practices.

The "Killing Machine" and Pseudo-Legal Processes

Journalist Amir Masawi, from German public broadcaster NDR, explained that the Syrian regime attempted to frame its "killing machine" within a quasi-legal process. This involved documenting the deaths of individuals who had often been deceased for months prior to any judicial review.

• Process: Detainees were tortured and killed, and then documentary evidence of their deaths was fabricated and presented to military courts.
• Military Court's Role: Military judges would then "legalize" these deaths, effectively rubber-stamping executions that had already occurred.
• Regime's Mindset: This documentation was based on the regime's belief that they would not be held accountable for their actions.

The Archive's Origin and Scope

The archive consists of approximately 700,000 photos, with 70,000 specifically taken by the Syrian military police between 2015 and 2024. This indicates that the systematic documentation of killings continued even after the publication of the "Caesar file" (a previous leak of photos documenting torture and death) in 2015, which was expected to lead to international repercussions.

• Shocking Discovery: The continued efficient operation of this "killing machine" until October 2024, as revealed by the new photos, was a significant shock to the investigators.

Verification and Authenticity of the Images

The investigation involved extensive efforts to verify the authenticity of the images, especially in an era of AI-generated content.

• On-the-Ground Research: Researchers traveled to Syria to understand how the regime maintained control and to identify potential locations where images might have been taken.
• Meeting the Source: Through intermediaries, the investigation team managed to meet the colonel responsible for documenting these images. He provided details about the process and confirmed the existence of the hard drive.
• Physical Evidence: The team later obtained permission to visit his office in the military police, where they saw the safe where the hard drive was stored. They also examined his ID and military records to verify his identity.
• Expert Analysis: The images were shown to experts in Germany who confirmed their horrific nature and authenticity. The experts described the images as depicting individuals tortured to death, with signs of bleeding and severe injuries.

The Evolving Purpose of Torture

The motivations behind the torture documented in the archive appear to have evolved over time.

• Pre-2012/2011: Torture was primarily used to extract information from individuals.
• Post-Revolution: Torture became a weapon of terror, intended to intimidate the Syrian population and deter them from participating in demonstrations. The regime aimed to convey a message: "if you go outside on the street demonstrating, you are going to face this and that."

The Colonel's Testimony and Motivations

The colonel who provided the archive was questioned about his role and any feelings of guilt.

• Claim of Following Orders: He stated that he was merely following orders to record and document.
• Preservation of Evidence: He also claimed he could have deleted the images, but chose not to, implying a desire to preserve the evidence. He believed families should know what happened.
• Current Status: As of the latest information, the colonel was not jailed and remained at large.

Addressing the Victims and Their Families

A crucial aspect of the investigation was to identify victims and offer some measure of closure to their families.

• Extracting Names and Codes: The team managed to extract approximately 500 names and codes from the bodies documented in the archive. Some individuals were identified by name, while others were only known by a code or number.
• Sharing Information: This list was shared with the United Nations and Syrian NGOs, who could then potentially reach out to families.
• Hope for Answers: The goal was to provide families with a body or at least a point of inquiry regarding their missing relatives. The report acknowledges the heartbreaking sight of families holding up photos in the hope of finding answers.
• Challenges for the New Government: The report notes that the new Syrian government faces immense challenges in providing answers to all victims due to the vast number of cases, lack of resources, and deleted evidence.

The Pursuit of Justice

The ultimate aim of this investigation is to contribute to the pursuit of justice.

• Evidence for European Justice Systems: The gathered evidence is intended to empower justice systems in Europe to move forward with investigations and potentially bring Assad and his officers to justice.
• Shedding Light on the Era: The work is seen as bringing "a small light in the darkness of the era of Bashar al-Assad."

Key Takeaways:

The investigation into the Syrian military police archive reveals a deeply disturbing and systematic approach by the Assad regime to document and legitimize the torture and murder of its own citizens. The sheer volume of evidence, its verification by experts, and the testimony of a high-ranking defector underscore the gravity of these crimes. The effort to identify victims and provide information to families, alongside the hope of holding perpetrators accountable through international justice mechanisms, represents a critical step in seeking truth and justice for the Syrian people.