The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria released a report on January 28, 2025, detailing systematic human rights violations by the Bashar al-Assad regime from 2011 to 2020. The report, titled "Network of Agony: Arbitrary Detentions, Torture, and Ill-treatment in the Syrian Arab Republic," concludes that these actions amount to crimes against humanity, war crimes, and violations of international humanitarian law.
It compiles over 2,000 testimonies, including 550 interviews with torture survivors, documenting widespread abuses in Syrian detention centers. The commission found that these practices were systematically implemented with the knowledge of authorities.
Methods of torture included beatings, electric shocks, suspension by limbs, burns, and denial of medical care. Inhumane conditions were reported, with an average of 2.5 detainees per square meter, lack of potable water, and insufficient food. Many detainees died from starvation, illness, or torture, with their bodies left alongside survivors for days.
The report highlights dehumanizing practices, such as forcing inmates to imitate animals and perform humiliating acts. The commission estimates these practices led to tens of thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of disappearances, with families still seeking information on their loved ones.
Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, chair of the commission, emphasized the importance of ensuring justice for victims and their families as crucial for a lasting resolution to the crisis. He noted that the findings aim to end the impunity surrounding these crimes.
The report also discusses the political changes in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, including the release of detainees by a coalition led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the discovery of mass graves, raising concerns for families about the fate of the missing.
The commission called on provisional and future authorities to preserve evidence related to these crimes and to promote credible judicial processes involving victims and their families. Hanny Megally, a commissioner, noted that cases presented in international courts under universal jurisdiction have resulted in significant convictions, but stressed the need for justice processes within Syria.
Finally, the commission expressed its intent to expand investigations now that it has access to the country and can interview witnesses without fear of reprisals. Pinheiro concluded that the new Syrian authorities have a critical opportunity to ensure these crimes are not repeated.