Reflections on the Aftermath of Assad's Regime in Syria

Syria is striving for a more peaceful future amidst the ongoing struggles stemming from the Assad regime's past. The way forward involves addressing the actions of those responsible for the regime's atrocities, as shared by witnesses recounting their harrowing experiences.

One witness, who prefers to remain anonymous, recalls her time at Al Mutjahid Hospital, also known as the Tischreen Medical Center, where she encountered unimaginable horrors. The 44-year-old woman from Damascus described how the trauma she witnessed during her mother's treatment for kidney failure in 2016 has left her deeply affected. She explained that many perpetrators from that time continue to live freely, raising concerns about potential revenge from the families of victims, which could perpetuate a cycle of violence in Syria.

As is common in Syria, the witness stayed close to her mother during her hospital stay. Often, she would spend the night in the dilapidated intensive care unit, while her sister brought food. However, on the same floor, there was a hidden section separated by a metal wall, shrouded in secrecy. The witness described hearing strange screams emanating from that area daily, fueling her unease.

One day, she caught a glimpse through a narrow gap in the wall and saw a group of men being violently beaten by guards. From that moment on, she observed a disturbing pattern: injured men were regularly brought in, while bodies were taken out. Upon her mother's discharge, she learned from acquaintances that the Tischreen facility was notorious for treating torture victims from various prisons across the city. Officially designated for medical care, few of those admitted survived their ordeal.

The nursing staff remained silent about the horrific conditions, as many were supporters of Assad. Their comments about the unsanitary environment and the high death toll among patients revealed their own trauma and disbelief at the situation they were witnessing.

The witness expressed her fears about the consequences of speaking out, revealing that had anyone known she was observing the events unfold, she too could have faced dire repercussions. Outside the hospital, she frequently encountered families desperately searching for missing loved ones, identifiable by the tears in their eyes. Following Assad's abrupt departure to Russia in December, doctors and soldiers vanished overnight from Tischreen, prompting a group of activists, including one named Mohamed, to storm the building in search of patient records.

Mohamed, an engineer who wishes to maintain his anonymity, reported that they managed to secure hundreds of pages detailing patient admissions, shifts, and the names of doctors, along with records of deceased individuals. This effort is part of a larger initiative by the Syria Reporting Center, which investigates buildings where regime opponents were detained and tortured.

In front of the infamous Sednaya prison, volunteers discovered books containing the names of inmates and staff, left behind when the regime fled. Due to the rapid departure of authorities, many records fell into the hands of families searching for their relatives, who often overlooked the documents in their grief. One particular record from Tischreen alone documents 146 pages of torture victims from 2016.

The witness concluded that no one had ever left the military hospital alive. Reports indicated that bodies were transported to cemeteries at night, with precise records kept by the regime as the detentions provided opportunities for extortion from victims' families.

Efforts to hold those responsible for decades of atrocities accountable are seen as essential for fostering a new social order in Syria. Activists argue that addressing these past crimes is crucial to breaking the cycle of violence that has plagued the country.