Forced Disappearances in Post-Assad Syria Raise Fears for Human Rights and Justice

According to recent reports, dozens of new abductions have taken place in the past months, adding to the more than 100,000 people who went missing under the previous government.

Nearly a year after the fall of Syria’s former government, the country remains haunted by widespread disappearances, abductions, and uncertainty over the fate of tens of thousands of people. Human rights organizations and international observers have voiced growing concern about continued cases of enforced disappearance and abduction, despite the political changes that followed the end of the Assad regime.

According to recent reports, dozens of new abductions have taken place in the past months, adding to the more than 100,000 people who went missing under the previous government. The continuing pattern of disappearances has cast a shadow over Syria’s fragile recovery and raised pressing questions about accountability, rule of law, and the safety of humanitarian workers.

Thousands Still Missing After a Decade of Conflict

The Syrian conflict, which began in 2011, left deep scars across the nation. The Assad regime was notorious for its use of arbitrary detention, torture, and enforced disappearance as tools of repression. International rights groups estimate that at least 100,000 people—mostly civilians—were detained or vanished during the conflict’s early years.

Since the collapse of the former government in 2024, some families have been reunited with relatives who were held in secret detention centers or makeshift prisons. However, for many others, the torment continues. Mothers, fathers, and children still wait for word of loved ones—sometimes with only rumors or unverified reports to cling to.

“The fate and whereabouts of all those who have gone missing, both before and after the fall of the former government, must urgently be clarified,” a coalition of human rights monitors said this week. “Families have waited too long for truth, justice, and closure.”

The Independent Institution on Missing Persons

In an effort to address the enduring crisis, the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic (IIMP) has taken on a critical role. Established with international backing, the IIMP is tasked with gathering information, verifying identities, and facilitating the return of remains to families where possible.

The institution operates in close coordination with humanitarian agencies and local organizations, documenting cases and advocating for the release of information from all parties to the conflict. Despite facing enormous logistical and security challenges, the IIMP has become a crucial avenue for families searching for answers.

The Case of Hamza Al-Amarin: A Symbol of the Ongoing Crisis

One of the most emblematic recent cases is that of Hamza Al-Amarin, a volunteer with the Syria Civil Defense, widely known as the White Helmets. On 16 July 2025, Al-Amarin disappeared while assisting a humanitarian evacuation mission during an outbreak of violence in Suweida. Despite ongoing efforts to locate him, his fate remains unknown.

Humanitarian organizations have condemned his disappearance as part of a broader pattern of targeting aid and rescue workers, even in areas ostensibly under post-conflict governance. The White Helmets, who gained global recognition for their lifesaving work during airstrikes and sieges, have repeatedly been targeted by both state and non-state armed actors.

“All armed actors – both exercising State power and otherwise – must respect and protect humanitarian workers at all times,” said a UN spokesperson, emphasizing that international human rights and humanitarian law prohibit the targeting, detention, or harassment of such personnel.

Calls for Justice and Accountability

The persistence of disappearances even after regime change underscores the profound governance and security challenges Syria continues to face. As new authorities and international stakeholders attempt to stabilize the country, the legacy of human rights abuses remains a central obstacle to reconciliation.

Human rights advocates argue that true peace cannot be achieved without confronting the past. That means not only locating the missing but also holding perpetrators accountable for crimes committed both before and after the fall of the Assad government.

“Accountability and justice for all human rights violations and abuses, past and present, are essential for Syria to build a durable, peaceful and secure future,” said a statement from a coalition of Syrian civil society organizations.

A Nation Searching for Closure

In towns and cities across Syria, families continue to hang photos of missing relatives on walls, post online appeals, and gather in silent vigils demanding truth. Many of these families have endured more than a decade of uncertainty, living in a limbo that prevents healing and reconciliation.

International observers stress that clarifying the fate of the missing is not only a humanitarian imperative but also a foundation for rebuilding trust between citizens and institutions. Without transparency and accountability, Syria’s fragile transition risks perpetuating the same cycles of fear and impunity that marked its recent past.

As the world watches Syria’s recovery unfold, the unresolved fate of the disappeared serves as a stark reminder: peace cannot be measured solely by the absence of war—it must also be built on truth, justice, and respect for human dignity.