-
Discovery of a Mass Grave in Daraa Governorate Southern Syria
Local residents in Daraa Governorate, southern Syria, have discovered a mass grave near the 9th Division in the city of Sanamein. According to the news site "Daraa 24," which published news of the discovery on its Facebook account on Friday evening, the investigation shows that the remains in the grave consist of bones and remnants of clothing, indicating that these bodies have been buried for over ten years.
It is noteworthy that in a previous incident, a mass grave was found on December 16 in the Kuwaiti farm located on the outskirts of the city of Izra in central Daraa, where the area was under the control of a militia affiliated with the military security branch. This discovery resulted in the exhumation of 31 bodies, including women and children, which were buried last Thursday at the Martyrs' Cemetery on the Sheikh Miskin – Izra road.
In another incident, a mass grave was found on the 21st of last month in the vicinity of the village of Umm al-Qusur, located on the administrative border between Daraa and rural Damascus. Photos taken from these sites show that the remaining bones are old, and the relevant authorities have been notified to handle the situation.
For its part, the Syrian Civil Defense Organization, known as the "White Helmets," confirmed that the unprofessional interventions affecting mass graves represent a violation of the dignity of the victims and the rights of their families, leading to damage to the crime scene and crucial forensic evidence necessary to uncover the fate of the missing and hold those responsible for enforced disappearances accountable.
The organization expressed concern that these interventions obstruct justice efforts and increase the suffering of families eagerly waiting to learn the fate of their loved ones. It emphasized the importance of avoiding visits to mass grave sites or disturbing them to ensure the preservation of the dignity and rights of the victims.
