Obeida Dabbagh recounts the horror of his brother and nephew’s enforced disappearances by the Assad regime during the Syrian civil war. Despite their innocence in protests, they suffered torture, leading to powerful legal actions taken by their family, culminating in indictments against senior regime officials. The UN underscores the urgent need for accountability amid ongoing human rights abuses in Syria.
A relative of two Syrian men who were tortured and murdered under the Assad regime has expressed the emotional pain stemming from their enforced disappearance during Syria’s civil war. Obeida Dabbagh’s brother, Mazen, and nephew, Patrick, both holding dual Syrian-French nationality, were detained by Air Force Intelligence officials in November 2013. They were falsely declared deceased in 2018 after years of torture and imprisonment, as conveyed in a statement to the Committee on Enforced Disappearances at the UN Office in Geneva.
Mr. Dabbagh emphasized that neither Mazen nor Patrick participated in the early protests against President Bashar al-Assad, which were met with severe crackdowns, including mass arrests and torture. He shared that in addition to the physical abuses they endured, the regime extorted money from their family for information regarding their whereabouts and even forcibly evicted Mazen’s wife and daughter from their home in Damascus.
In his remarks, Mr. Dabbagh asserted, “This fight goes beyond my family; it is part of a universal quest for justice and against impunity for war crimes.” His legal efforts aim not only to seek justice for his loved ones but also to contribute to the broader struggle against the atrocities of the Syrian regime. Prior to their arrest, Mazen was involved in teaching at a French college while Patrick studied psychology at Damascus University.
In a desperate attempt to secure their release, the family reached out to various authorities, including those in Syria, France, and international organizations, such as the Red Cross and the European Union. In 2016, in collaboration with the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), they filed a complaint in Paris regarding crimes against humanity.
This action spurred the French justice system to initiate an investigation, leading to testimonies from Syrian defectors and ultimately an indictment order in March 2023 against three senior Syrian officials for complicity in crimes against humanity. Following a trial held in France in May, Ali Mamlouk, Jamil Hassan, and Abdel Salam Mahmoud were sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment for their roles in serious crimes including imprisonment and torture.
The Committee on Enforced Disappearances oversees the implementation of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006. This treaty obliges ratifying countries to uphold provisions, such as prohibiting secret detentions and searching for those who have disappeared. However, as noted by independent rights expert Fidelis Kanyongolo, many states have not ratified the Convention, complicating enforcement against Syria, which has not joined the Rome Statute necessary for the International Criminal Court’s intervention.
Established as the first legally binding international instrument against enforced disappearance, the Convention is a crucial reference, embodying various aspects of customary international law. It preceded a 1992 Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and stands as a key global accord.
On the 14th anniversary of the onset of the Syrian civil war, the UN Human Rights Council’s Commission of Inquiry called for immediate measures to hold all perpetrators accountable. The Commission stressed the necessity to preserve evidence to support future accountability initiatives driven by new Syrian authorities, with crucial input from civil society organizations.
The plight of the Dabbagh family highlights the emotional and legal battles faced by families of those disappeared during the Syrian civil war. Through persistent legal action and collaboration with human rights organizations, they have sought justice not only for their relatives but also against systemic abuses perpetrated by the Assad regime. International legal frameworks like the Convention on Enforced Disappearances are essential for addressing these atrocities, yet significant challenges remain in ensuring accountability. Continued international support and a focus on preserving evidence are critical to the pursuit of justice in Syria.
Original Source: news.un.org
