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Lost Justice: Syrian Mothers Confront the Official Indifference to the Issue of the Detained
At the heart of the bleeding Syrian wound lies the issue of detainees and the forcibly disappeared, serving as a true test of justice and humanity. Behind this issue stand more than 130,000 individuals who have been forcibly disappeared, leaving behind shattered mothers who live on the edges of hope and despair, enduring the bitterness of waiting in silence that no one hears. The tragedy of Syrian mothers is not just a fleeting event in the midst of the crisis but a deafening cry demanding fundamental rights, a pain that permeates the very fabric of Syrian society.
In a scene that raises many moral and political questions, the caretaker Prime Minister, Ahmad al-Shara, met with the mother of missing American journalist Austin Tice. The meeting, set against a backdrop of intense media and diplomatic focus, reflects a political commitment to addressing the disappearance of an American citizen. Despite the importance of this meeting from a humanitarian standpoint, it casts a heavy shadow on the systematic neglect surrounding thousands of Syrian mothers who are still waiting for the slightest indication of concern for the fate of their detained sons. Why are doors opened for an individual case while closed to a collective tragedy that threatens the stability and future of Syrian society?
The issue of detainees is not simply a human rights file trapped in the labyrinths of politics; it is an open wound that hinders any attempts to discuss national reconciliation or build lasting peace. The Syrian mothers who are anxiously waiting to know the fate of their children only ask for their natural right to recover their loved ones or even to know their whereabouts, whether they are alive or dead. This ongoing neglect of their suffering reflects not only a lack of political will but also a profound failure to commit to the simplest principles of justice and fairness.
If the caretaker government, led by al-Shara, is unable to handle this sensitive file, the least it can do is to open the door for Syrian and international organizations specializing in human rights that are capable of taking practical steps to address this disaster. Past international experiences have proven that the shared will between governments and civil society can alleviate the impacts of such crises.
The experience of Argentina, which suffered from the disappearance of tens of thousands during the military dictatorship in the 1970s, can serve as a valuable lesson. After the regime's fall, truth and reconciliation committees were established to document violations, uncover the fates of the disappeared, and prosecute those responsible. The "Madres de Plaza de Mayo" played a pivotal role in pressuring the government to keep the issue of the disappeared alive, forcing authorities to act. This experience demonstrates that confronting the past courageously and addressing it legally and morally is the first step towards building a stable future.
Delaying action on the issue of the detained and forcibly disappeared in Syria threatens to ignite hatred and revenge from which no one will be spared. Each passing day without solutions amplifies the pain and anger of affected families. The absence of justice and lack of accountability for these crimes entrench a culture of impunity and deepen societal fractures that threaten any discussion of stability or peace.
Syrian mothers are the living voice of conscience for this wounded nation. Their tears and pain are no less important than any international cause that garners attention. Justice begins with listening to them, revealing the fate of their sons, and taking practical steps to restore dignity to them and their families. If al-Shara's government cannot do this, the least it can do is open the door for human rights organizations capable of leading this issue in a manner befitting its size and importance.
The Syria we dream of will not be built on the neglect of rights or the denial of grievances. Justice is not a luxury; it is a fundamental condition for rebuilding trust among Syrians and achieving genuine reconciliation that ends the psychological and societal devastation. Syrian mothers carry a cry for justice that must be heard, not only to close the file of the detainees but also to end a dark chapter in the history of this homeland and open the doors of hope for a new Syria characterized by peace and justice.
by: Shiyar khaleal
