Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ) has submitted 22 individual complaints to the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID). The complaints include documented information on cases of disappearance that occurred in different contexts during and after the fall of the Assad regime and the assumption of power by the transitional government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa. The complaints include the following:
- Cases of enforced disappearance in al-Qadam neighborhood (Damascus): These occurred during two large-scale security operations in December 2024 and March 2025. Victims were arbitrarily arrested from their homes and neighborhoods, after which the relevant security authorities denied having any information regarding their fate or place of detention.
- Enforced disappearance cases linked to the coastal events/coastal massacres of March 2025: These occurred on 7 and 8 March 2025 during the violent events that took place in Syria’s coastal region, which were accompanied by abductions and detentions carried out by armed actors affiliated with or linked to the government. To this day, the fate of the victims remains unknown, despite repeated attempts by their families to obtain information from official authorities.
- Cases of enforced disappearance occurring during and after the fall of the former regime: These cases were documented in several governorates and were carried out by different actors linked to the government. They reflect a troubling pattern indicating the persistence of enforced disappearance practices despite the change in political and security control.
STJ stresses that the practice of enforced disappearance —including arbitrary detention, denial of custody, and depriving families of access to information— constitutes a serious violation of international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as binding customary rules that absolutely prohibit enforced disappearance. STJ urgently calls on the Syrian transitional government to immediately disclose all cases of enforced disappearance that have occurred since 8 December 2024, without delay.
STJ encourages affected families to document disappearance cases in support of efforts to uncover the fate of the missing, strengthen accountability, and prevent the recurrence of such violations.
STJ reiterates its commitment to continuing the documentation of enforced disappearance cases, supporting victims’ families, and working toward truth and justice in Syria, regardless of the identity or affiliations of the victims.