Damascus Dossier reveals regime’s systematic brutality
A historic document leak creates new opportunities to hold perpetrators accountable. Today, one of the largest document leaks ever from Syria’s intelligence services was made public. The extensive leak, called the Damascus Dossier, contains over 134,000 documents and images exposing how thousands of people were systematically imprisoned, tortured, and killed under Bashar al-Assad’s rule.
Behind the revelation are the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the German broadcaster NDR, and 24 media partners in 20 countries.
The material shows, for example, how deaths disguised as “heart attacks” were in fact the result of systematic torture. For families, this means a chance to learn the fate of missing loved ones – and for judicial authorities, crucial evidence for future prosecutions of those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Our work for accountability in Syria
For more than a decade, Civil Rights Defenders has worked to document abuses and pursue legal action against perpetrators. Together with Syrian and international partners, we have filed several criminal complaints in Sweden and other European countries, based on the principle of universal jurisdiction.
We have also supported initiatives that led to historic steps – such as arrest warrants for high-ranking members of the Assad regime and ongoing investigations into chemical weapons attacks.
Victims of crime are welcome to contact us
Perpetrators of grave international crimes shall firstly be brought to justice in the country where the crimes were committed. In cases where this is not possible, for example, because the authorities in the country involved in the crime are complicit, perpetrators may be brought to justice outside the country in some instances. Civil Rights Defenders can support victims in Sweden in reporting grave international crimes committed outside of Sweden to the Swedish Police Authority’s War Crimes Unit.
Have you been subjected to serious international crimes in Syria, or do you have information that could contribute to legal proceedings? Read more on how to report a crime, or if you want help or support.
We are available for the media
Journalists seeking more information about accountability and legal processes related to Syria are welcome to contact us. We can provide background, legal expertise, and connect you with our Syrian partner organisations.
Contact us: press@crd.org or +46 (0)76 576 27 62
