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The Grave Digger.. Reveals His Identity: A Terrifying Testimony About the Crimes of the Syrian Regime
The witness known as "The Grave Digger" revealed his true identity for the first time, shedding light on the painful experiences he endured while working with the Syrian regime. At an Arab conference at Harvard University, Muhammad Afeef Naifeh, a native of Damascus, announced his full name after years of providing testimony before the U.S. Congress and the Koblenz court in Germany.
In his remarks, Naifeh noted that the testimonies he provided, in addition to the images leaked by the defected military photographer "Caesar" (Freid Al-Madhhan), contributed to clarifying the atrocities of the overthrown regime to the world, especially those related to the dumping of thousands of corpses in mass graves, including the bodies of children who died under torture.
Naifeh emphasized the international impact of his testimonies, stating that they served as a catalyst for imposing economic sanctions on the regime in an attempt to punish it for its ongoing violations of human rights. He expressed concern over the effects of these sanctions on the Syrian people, pointing out that citizens continue to suffer from their consequences even four months after the fall of the regime, and called for accountability for all those who committed crimes against Syrians.
"The Grave Digger" first appeared in September 2020 during his testimony at the Koblenz court in the context of the trial of former intelligence officer Anwar Raslan. He testified in disguise, wearing a mask to conceal his facial features and did not remove it during the three hours of recounting horrific truths.
Naifeh also recounted horrifying scenes from his experience while serving in the regime's forces, mentioning the corpse of a woman holding her dead child, and another of a man still alive while being trapped among thousands of bodies, where a bulldozer operator was instructed to bury him alive. His emotional distress was apparent while describing these moments, prompting the judge to request a break after he broke down in tears.
He explained that he received trucks loaded with corpses twice a week from various hospitals, containing between 300 and 600 bodies, most of whom were presumed to have been executed under torture or as a result of starvation. He also shared painful details about receiving three to four smaller trucks containing the bodies of civilians executed in Saydnaya Prison, which were still warm upon receipt.
The story of "The Grave Digger" began in 2011 when he was recruited by one of the regime's members to lead a team of 10 to 15 people to accompany the trucks of corpses four times a week to mass graves in various areas around Damascus. Describing the burial process as chaotic, he stated that the bodies were dumped into massive pits, reaching depths of 6 meters and lengths of 100 meters, requiring about 150 trips to fill. Most bodies were buried without names, some showing signs of torture, bruises, and missing nails.
Naifeh's testimonies represent a voice among many that urge the world to pay attention to the crimes of the Syrian regime and reflect the necessity of delivering justice to the victims who have suffered egregious violations.
