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Report: Holding Accountable Those Who Attempt to Conceal Evidence in the Prisons of Bashar al-Assad's Regime
Concealing evidence in sites where war crimes and crimes against humanity have taken place is considered a crime in itself, aiming to erase the traces of horrific violations and deprive victims and their families of their rights to justice. This phenomenon represents a blatant assault on humanity and on the painful truths that need to be acknowledged and revealed.
A large number of Syrian activists expressed their anger after reports emerged indicating the concealment of evidence in the former regime's prisons, which could allow perpetrators to evade judicial accountability. These reports included the destruction of surveillance cameras at Sednaya Prison, as well as the erasure of features within prisons that could lead to identifying the culprits.
Concealing evidence is defined as a series of intentional acts aimed at removing or destroying evidence used to prove the commission of crimes. These acts include the erasure of official documents, the destruction of victims' remains, and the manipulation of testimonies and memories. These practices represent a double violation of human rights: the first occurs during the commission of violations, and the second involves efforts to ignore or deny those violations.
Prisons and locations where these crimes occurred stand as witnesses to a massive humanitarian tragedy. These places must remain alive in the world's memory, representing symbols of the resilience of victims and the reality of the suffering they endured. Concealing these features poses a danger to the ability of societies to learn from past mistakes and ensure they are not repeated.
Activist Mo'tasim al-Kilani called on his personal Facebook account for a formal complaint to be filed with the public prosecutor in Latakia against individuals who appeared in a circulated video for their involvement in concealing evidence related to the Political Security Branch prison there. The complaint also includes the security official who granted permission for these individuals to enter the crime scene and tamper with the evidence, leading to its concealment.
This act, according to national and international laws, is considered a pattern of complicity and direct or indirect participation in the commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Holding accountable those involved in concealing evidence requires assessing the responsibilities placed on individuals who were granted permission to enter crime scenes. These individuals are part of an integrated system that seeks to protect the perpetrators by hiding the truths.
National and international legal frameworks indicate that allowing the concealment of evidence constitutes a form of complicity, meaning that those responsible for these actions must be held accountable, whether they are part of the state apparatus or belong to unofficial entities.
The erasure of traces of serious violations not only affects direct victims but also extends to the rights of their families. Concealing the truth leads to a total loss of justice and hinders appropriate punishment for the criminals. By distorting history, society is deprived of the opportunity to learn and engage with its past.
Preserving evidence and testimonies is essential to ensuring justice. Holding accountable those responsible for violations and ensuring victims' rights must represent a fundamental part of any future reconciliation process. As communities strive to build a better future, prioritizing the revelation of truth and the achievement of justice must be fundamental.
The responsibility to hold accountable those who seek to conceal evidence in the prisons of the Syrian regime is not just a legal necessity, but a humanitarian duty. The international community and involved parties must work collaboratively to ensure that criminals do not escape punishment. Preserving truth and justice is not only to safeguard the memory of the victims but also to ensure that humanitarian tragedies are not repeated in the future. Sacrificing the facts means sacrificing humanity, and it is our collective duty to hold accountable those who seek to erase them.
