Fraudsters Deceive Families of Missing Individuals in Syria

Thousands of people have disappeared within Syria's prison system during the country's civil conflict, leaving their families desperate for answers. Many families are forced to pay large sums of money to middlemen, government officials, and security forces in exchange for information about their missing loved ones, often with no results. One Syrian woman named Malak recounted the arrest of her two teenage sons in 2012. Her eldest son, Mohammad, had defected from the Syrian army after being ordered to shoot at protesters in his neighborhood. He went into hiding but was eventually captured. Malak's second son, Maher, was also detained because his brother had defected. Since their arrests, Malak has tried repeatedly to find her sons, relying on middlemen and paying substantial amounts of money for any information. She has paid over $20,000 to a lawyer who promised her updates but failed to deliver. Malak, along with her youngest son, eventually fled Syria in 2017 and now resides in Turkey. The search for missing loved ones has led many families to resort to paying bribes, as it is believed to be the only way to receive information or secure their release. However, the process is filled with deception and corruption. The origins of the Syrian civil war trace back to the peaceful uprising of 2011 when protesters called for change. President Assad's regime responded brutally, detaining and killing thousands. Mohammad Abdulsalam, one of those protesters, was detained in 2012 and imprisoned in Seydnaya prison, where he endured torture. After being declared dead, his father persisted in searching for him and eventually secured his release by paying over $40,000. The UN General Assembly has recently passed a resolution to establish an independent institution to investigate missing persons in Syria. Organizations like the Association of Detainees and Missing in Seydnaya Prison (ADMSP) have emerged to support the families of the disappeared. ADMSP's co-founder, Riyad Avlar, himself a former prisoner, is dedicated to helping families find their missing relatives. However, many families have paid exorbitant sums of money to obtain information, with estimates of $900 million being spent between 2011 and 2020. ADMSP conducts workshops to educate families about avoiding scams by middlemen. The stories of families like Malak and Kadri Ahmad Badle highlight the heartbreaking reality faced by those searching for their missing loved ones, leading to immense financial and emotional burdens. The Syrian government, known for its corruption, has not responded to requests for comment on the situation.