Former US Official Exposes Assad's 'Death Machine' in Syria
Former US ambassador for war crimes, Stephen Rapp, has revealed alarming evidence regarding the Syrian regime's systematic killings, likening it to a Nazi-era 'death machine.' According to Rapp, who has documented mass grave sites in Qutayfah and Najha, over 100,000 individuals are estimated to have been tortured and killed since 2013. He described a chilling process involving the arrest, torture, and disposal of victims in mass graves, emphasizing the scale of atrocities committed under the regime of ousted President Bashar al-Assad.
The International Commission on Missing Persons corroborates these findings, reporting up to 66 unidentified mass grave sites in Syria, with more than 157,000 individuals reported missing. Local testimonies reveal the grim reality of refrigerated trucks transporting bodies to these sites, further highlighting the urgent need for accountability and justice for the victims and their families.
Calls for Accountability and Preservation of Evidence
Human rights organizations are advocating for the protection of these mass grave sites to ensure the preservation of forensic evidence crucial for future international trials. Families of the missing persons are demanding accountability through both Syrian and international legal systems, rejecting any attempts to obscure the truth of the crimes committed.
As the Assad regime continues to deny any wrongdoing and with the former president currently residing in Russia, the path to justice remains uncertain. However, human rights activists stress the importance of ongoing documentation of these crimes, which may aid in future legal proceedings against those responsible for the atrocities in Syria.
