Majad Al Mneni, a labourer from Damascus, went missing in 2012 and has only now been found to be dead by his family, who spotted him among the Caeser images. Courtesy Amer Al Faj
Majad Al Mneni, a labourer from Damascus, went missing in 2012 and has only now been found to be dead by his family, who spotted him among the Caeser images. Courtesy Amer Al Faj
Majad Al Mneni, a labourer from Damascus, went missing in 2012 and has only now been found to be dead by his family, who spotted him among the Caeser images. Courtesy Amer Al Faj
Majad Al Mneni, a labourer from Damascus, went missing in 2012 and has only now been found to be dead by his family, who spotted him among the Caeser images. Courtesy Amer Al Faj

Syrians find heartbreak among republished Caesar torture images

The introduction of the US's Caesar Act has led to the recirculation of the photos that inspired it

Liz Cookman
Hussein Akoush

July 06, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

When Abdulwahab Idelbi last saw his parents seven years ago, he was expecting to see them again the following day – he did not even hug them goodbye.

It is only now, with fresh attention on a set of images that document the widespread torture, starvation and beatings in Syrian government detention facilities, that he is beginning to piece together what happened to them.

The recent introduction of the long-awaited Caesar Act, a US bill imposing sanctions on the Syrian regime and those who co-operate with it, has led to the republishing of the photographs it was named after in local media.

Smuggled out from the civil war-ridden country in 2013 by a military officer codenamed Caesar, they show the corpses of those who had died in regime custody. Some are listed under a number and no name and most show the signs of systematic torture.

After nearly a decade of war, Syria is crumbling under the weight of a repressive, corrupt ruling elite, a pandemic and an economic downslide compounded by western sanctions. AP Photo
After nearly a decade of war, Syria is crumbling under the weight of a repressive, corrupt ruling elite, a pandemic and an economic downslide compounded by western sanctions. AP Photo
Souvenir plates bearing the Syrian flag and the portraits of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar Al Assad are pictured in a shop in a bazaar in old Damascus. AFP
Souvenir plates bearing the Syrian flag and the portraits of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar Al Assad are pictured in a shop in a bazaar in old Damascus. AFP
A man works in his metal workshop beneath a portrait of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad in old Damascus earlier this week. AFP
A man works in his metal workshop beneath a portrait of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad in old Damascus earlier this week. AFP
A Syrian boy carrying textiles is pictured in the bazaar in old Damascus. AFP
A Syrian boy carrying textiles is pictured in the bazaar in old Damascus. AFP
A Syrian shopkeeper waits for customers in a bazaar in old Damascus. AFP
A Syrian shopkeeper waits for customers in a bazaar in old Damascus. AFP
Syrians walk in old Damascus in front of a portrait of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. AFP
Syrians walk in old Damascus in front of a portrait of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. AFP
Syrian shoppers walk in the bazaar in old Damascus. AFP
Syrian shoppers walk in the bazaar in old Damascus. AFP
Syrian men work in their bakery in old Damascus. AFP
Syrian men work in their bakery in old Damascus. AFP
Employees stack packets of the Syrian pound in the Central Syrian Bank in Damascus. AP Photo
Employees stack packets of the Syrian pound in the Central Syrian Bank in Damascus. AP Photo
An anti-Assad regime demonstration under way in Suweida, southern Syria, in early June 2020. AFP
An anti-Assad regime demonstration under way in Suweida, southern Syria, in early June 2020. AFP

While some families of the missing said they were previously unaware that the images were available online, others – like Mr Idelbi – had checked many times before, but it is only now that they can begin to put the search for their family members to rest.

"When the pictures were circulated on social media again a few days ago, I saw that some people had spotted their loved ones and I felt that there were new pictures," Mr Idelbi told The National.

“I checked the Air Force Intelligence folder and I saw my father with the number ‘0053346’ on his forehead. It was shocking, I couldn’t believe it for a moment.

Words can't help me to describe my emotions – my father is just a number now

“We still had a hope that he was still alive … Words can’t help me to describe my emotions – my father is just a number now.”

After years of asking questions, of contacting anyone who may have seen his parents in prison or heard of their whereabouts, he now has some closure. Yet the fate of his mother remains unknown.

A report by Human Rights Watch identified that at least 6,786 people among almost 29,000 of the Caesar photographs had died in detention or military hospital, while the other pictures showed attack sites or the bodies of those who were identified by name.

Most of the unidentified dead, HRW said, had been detained by just five intelligence agency branches in Damascus between May 2011 and August 2013. Today, it is estimated that between 75,000 and over 200,000 people are missing in Syria, with many thought to be either dead or forcibly detained.

Amer Al Faj’s family had not dared look at the brutal Caesar images when they were released between 2014 and 2015 because they were scared of seeing his sister’s husband among them.

Last week, his brother sent a message saying: “I am going to send you a picture of Majed”.

Majad Al Mneni, a labourer from Damascus, went missing in 2012 and has only now been found to be dead by his family, who spotted him among the Caeser images. Courtesy Amer Al Faj
Majad Al Mneni, a labourer from Damascus, went missing in 2012 and has only now been found to be dead by his family, who spotted him among the Caeser images. Courtesy Amer Al Faj

“My sister came to me crying and showed me her husband’s picture. She was expecting his death, but it is shocking and heartbreaking,” he said.

The last time he saw Majed Al Mneni, a father of two who worked in a cosmetic trading business, was 20 days before he disappeared in 2012. Having been injured in a bombing in an opposition-held area of Aleppo, he was transferred to a regime hospital for treatment, where he was detained.

They found on his phone videos of anti-regime demonstrations, of regime soldiers torturing civilians and a picture of him with a late dissident – a first lieutenant who had defected from the army that same year.

Majed’s mother followed his status in detention, and although an intelligence officer told her he had died in prison, they were not able to prove it.

“Majed was such a hardworking and ambitious man. He was committed to his business, such a respectful and calm person. It’s a big loss,” said Mr Al Faj.

“These pictures are proof that a heinous crime was committed, and is still being committed, before the world’s eyes … We will never forget or forgive those who have kept silent.”

FIGHT CARD

Bantamweight Hamza Bougamza (MAR) v Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)

Catchweight 67kg Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) v Fouad Mesdari (ALG)

Lighweight Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) v Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)

Catchweight 73kg Mostafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) v Yazid Chouchane (ALG)

Middleweight Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) v Badreddine Diani (MAR)

Catchweight 78kg Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Adnan Bushashy (ALG)

Middleweight Sallaheddine Dekhissi (MAR) v Abdel Emam (EGY)

Catchweight 65kg Rachid Hazoume (MAR) v Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG)

Lighweight Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Azouz Anwar (EGY)

Catchweight 79kg Omar Hussein (PAL) v Souhil Tahiri (ALG)

Middleweight Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Laid Zerhouni (ALG)

New UK refugee system

 

  • A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
  • Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
  • A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
  • To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
  • Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
  • Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
While you're here
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8

Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm

Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km

Price: Dh380,000

On sale: now 

THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

The national orchestra
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

If you go

The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.

The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.

The biog

Name: Mohammed Imtiaz

From: Gujranwala, Pakistan

Arrived in the UAE: 1976

Favourite clothes to make: Suit

Cost of a hand-made suit: From Dh550

 

Voices: How A Great Singer Can Change Your Life
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The Baghdad Clock

Shahad Al Rawi, Oneworld

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ogram%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Karim%20Kouatly%20and%20Shafiq%20Khartabil%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20On-demand%20staffing%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2050%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMore%20than%20%244%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20round%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%2C%20Aditum%20and%20Oraseya%20Capital%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
  • 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
  • 2nd Test India won by innings and 53 runs at Colombo
  • 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele

'The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting up a Generation for Failure' ​​​​
Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, Penguin Randomhouse

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Whiile you're here
The specs: Fenyr SuperSport

Price, base: Dh5.1 million

Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six

Transmission: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm

Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km

Killing of Qassem Suleimani

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20SCE%20Studio%20Cambridge%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sony%20Computer%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%2C%20PlayStation%204%20and%205%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
While you're here
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20front-axle%20electric%20motor%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E218hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E330Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20automatic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20touring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E402km%20(claimed)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh215%2C000%20(estimate)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeptember%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
While you're here
While you're here
If you go...

Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.

Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg

Rating: 4/5

Syria