Obeida Dabbagh’s account of his brother Mazen and nephew Patrick’s enforced disappearance under the Assad regime reveals the suffering endured during Syria’s civil war. Despite their non-involvement in protests, they were tortured and falsely declared dead. The Dabbagh family has pursued justice through legal avenues, leading to indictments of key Syrian officials and highlighting the need for accountability in the ongoing conflict.
Obeida Dabbagh, a relative of two Syrian-French nationals who were tortured and murdered by the Assad regime, has expressed profound anguish over their enforced disappearance during Syria’s civil war. His brother Mazen and nephew Patrick were arrested by Air Force Intelligence in November 2013, subjected to years of torture, and then falsely declared dead in 2018, years after their disappearance. Dabbagh urged for recognition of their struggles, noting that they were not among those who participated in the initial peaceful protests crushed by governmental violence.
Dabbagh detailed the extortion faced by his family during their search for justice, stating that the Syrian regime not only inflicted torture and executions but also demanded large sums of money, promising information or release. Moreover, he recounted that Mazen’s wife and daughter were expelled from their Damascus home. Dabbagh emphasized that their ordeal is part of a larger fight for justice worldwide, seeking accountability for war crimes committed by the Assad regime.
Prior to their detention, Mazen was involved in educational support at a French institution in Syria while Patrick was a student at Damascus University. The family sought help from various authorities, including the Red Cross and the European Union, and in 2016, they filed a complaint with the Paris Prosecutor’s office, aided by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). This complaint led to an investigation by the French judicial system, facilitating crucial testimonies from Syrian defectors.
In March 2023, three high-ranking Syrian officials were indicted for their roles in crimes against humanity and war crimes. Following a trial in absentia, they were sentenced to life imprisonment for their involvement in torture, enforced disappearance, and murder, as well as for property confiscation categorized as a war crime.
The Committee on Enforced Disappearances emphasizes the need for countries to adhere to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, established to eliminate enforced disappearances globally. This Convention, adopted in 2006 and enforced in 2010, mandates countries to search for the disappeared, prosecute offenders, and prevents secret detention. The ongoing lack of accountability in Syria complicates the pursuit of justice, as highlighted by independent expert Fidelis Kanyongolo.
The Convention serves as a critical legal framework for human rights, being the first binding international instrument against enforced disappearances. Composed of provisions that have become customary international law, it currently has 77 State parties. A recent statement by the UN Human Rights Council-mandated Commission of Inquiry on Syria urged for continuous efforts to ensure accountability for all perpetrators from the conflict.
The Commission underscored the necessity of preserving vital evidence from various sites of human rights abuses to support future truth and accountability efforts led by Syrian authorities with the engagement of civil society.
This article highlights the emotional and legal struggles faced by families of individuals subjected to enforced disappearance by the Assad regime in Syria. It outlines the critical importance of international legal frameworks, such as the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, in addressing these atrocities. Moreover, it underscores the urgent need for accountability within Syria, calling for preservation of evidence and tangible actions from the international community to support victims’ families in their quest for justice.
Original Source: news.un.org
