Families demand justice and accountability in emotional vigil at Daramsuq mass grave sites

DARAMSUQ — In a powerful expression of grief and resolve, the Families of Caesar Association held a solidarity vigil on Friday in Marjeh Square in downtown Daramsuq (Damascus). Families of victims and missing persons gathered to demand justice, accountability for crimes committed under the previous regime, and the preservation of mass graves believed to contain tens of thousands of bodies.

Mass Graves: Evidence of Atrocities

Participants carried photographs of their missing loved ones, chanting for international intervention to prevent tampering with mass graves — key evidence of the atrocities committed during the Assad regime.

Human rights activists emphasized the dangers of unauthorized handling of these sites, warning that interference by untrained teams could destroy crucial evidence. “These mass graves are not just crime scenes; they are the last link between families and their loved ones,” said one activist, underscoring the need for expert oversight to preserve justice.

شهداؤنا لا يحتاجون إلى صمت، بل إلى عدالة. لا يمكن أن تبقى المقابر الجماعية شاهدة على الظلم دون محاسبة نحن هنا لنؤكد على ضرورة حماية المقابر الجماعية، وأن لا يمر التاريخ دون محاسبة للمجرمين.#رابطة_عائلات_قيصر #عائلات_قيصر #سوريا #الحقيقة_والعدالة_اولا #ميثاق_الحقيقة_والعدالة… pic.twitter.com/eAX9pl8SU7

— Caesar Families Association (@Caesarfamilies) January 25, 2025

Stephen Rapp, former US Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues, described the mass graves as evidence of the former regime’s “machinery of death” during a visit to rural Daramsuq in December. Speaking to Reuters, Rapp stated, “We haven’t seen anything like this since the Nazis.” He estimated that over 100,000 individuals were tortured and executed under the regime since 2013, illustrating the enormity of the crimes.

‘Caesar Photos’ a Testament to Suffering

The Syrian Association for Missing Persons and Prisoners of Conscience released a 2015 report featuring 26,948 leaked images taken by a regime defector known as “Caesar.” These photographs documented approximately 7,000 victims’ faces and bodies, alongside an additional 55,000 images tied to 11,000 more victims. Verified by international human rights organizations, the photos are considered irrefutable evidence of systemic torture and starvation in regime detention centers.

Urgent Calls for Action

Participants at the vigil demanded international action to protect mass graves and launch transparent, independent investigations. They called for the creation of a global body to identify victims and hold perpetrators accountable.

One attendee, holding a photograph of his missing brother, stated, “The world must not forget what happened here. These graves tell the story of a regime that tried to erase our existence, and we won’t let that happen.”

Despite the harrowing stories, activists and families expressed hope for justice and reconciliation in Syria’s future. They stressed the importance of remembering the victims and ensuring that such atrocities are never repeated.