The Syrian Commission on Missing Persons has estimated that between 120,000 and 300,000 disappeared during the 50 years of rule by the Assad family.
The head of the commission, Mohammed Reda Jalkhi, said on Monday that so many people have disappeared since 1970. “But the real number could be much higher,” he told SANA.
Hafez al-Assad was the president of Syria from 1971 until his death in 2000, after which his son Bashar came to power and remained until he was overthrown last December.
Mass graves discovered
Jalkhi said the commission established in May has so far discovered 63 mass graves and has information on more that have yet to be investigated.
Tens of thousands of people disappeared after protests against the Assad regime in 2011 turned into a civil war that killed more than 300,000 and displaced some 14 million civilians, the UN estimated.
Since Assad’s escape to Moscow in December 2024, Syria has been ruled by a transitional government led by President Ahmed al-Shar.
