A UN investigation into Syria is pressing for answers into the disappearance of detainees following a long-term visit

Monia Ammar and Fionnuala Ní Aoláin from Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria met with victims, government officials and civil society groups between 1 and 7 July.

They also visited Homs and Quneitra after previous trips to Damascus, Damascus Countryside, Aleppo, Raqqa and Hassakeh.

Echoes of conflict

Their visit was marked by violence. Suspected improvised explosive devices hit a cafe near the Ministry of Justice and an area near the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus, killing and injuring civilians.

The commissioners condemned both attacks and voiced solidarity with the victims and their families.

They welcomed progress on transitional justice legislation and the start of trials for abuses committed under the former Assad regime, which collapsed in early December 2024.

But they stressed that the trial must respect fair trial guarantees and called for Syrian criminal law to be brought into line with international standards.

The family struggles to get answers

Containment remains a major concern. Although the government has promised to respect the rights of detainees, families still struggle to trace relatives detained by the government, and many are detained for long periods without judicial review.

The commission also raised similar concerns about detentions in the northeast, including at Roj camp, where more than six in 10 people detained are children.

He asked countries to repatriate their citizens from the Roj and Aq Burhan camps and release those arbitrarily detained. They also urged Damascus to clarify the fate of around 3,500 Syrians, including children, who were reportedly transferred to Iraq.

In Hassakeh, UN Human Rights Council– Designated investigators noted that more than 1,000 fighters captured during fighting between government forces and the mostly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces in January had been released, however the whereabouts of around 800 others remain unknown.

Vigilantism in Homs

In Homs, commissioners voiced concern about vigilante attacks against people accused of serving the previous government and called for all killings to be investigated promptly and impartially.

Property rights are also highlighted.

The commission highlighted the destruction and confiscation of homes during the conflict and urged fair compensation for those who were unable to recover property, especially women who were heads of household.

After the Israeli attack

In Quneitra, the commission’s ongoing investigation into Israel’s actions on Syrian territory uncovered reports of attacks, detentions, harassment and the demolition of homes as well as blocking access to agricultural land. They urged Israel to restore access to roads and land and release civilians arbitrarily detained.

In education, the commission welcomed steps to harmonize school curricula nationally and allow undocumented children to attend school and access health services. However, there are still concerns that students in the restive Sweida region will still be unable to take final exams.

The commission thanked the government in Damascus for facilitating access to places of detention they were refused entry to several facilities in Raqqa and Hassakeh.

This body, mandated by the Human Rights Council, was created in 2011 to investigate human rights violations in Syria. The mandate was last updated on April 7.