DAMASCUS — More than 112,000 Syrians forcibly disappeared under the Baath Party regime remain unaccounted for, with mounting evidence suggesting many were killed in detention, according to a report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR).

The scale of torture and extrajudicial killings in Syrian prisons has become increasingly apparent since the 61-year Baath Party regime collapsed on December 8.

The SNHR has documented approximately 136,000 cases of detention or enforced disappearance during the regime’s rule.

Following the regime’s fall, about 24,200 detainees have been released from facilities across Syria, including prisons in Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and Damascus.

According to the Anadolu, SNHR Chairman Fadel Abdul Ghany said that the organization is verifying details of those recently freed. However, more than 112,000 individuals remain missing.

“After excluding recent releases, 112,414 individuals detained by the regime remain unaccounted for and were most likely killed,” said Abdul Ghany.

He added that since the bodies have not been returned to their families, these individuals are still classified as forcibly disappeared.

“There is no evidence to suggest they are still alive,” Abdul Ghany explained.

The Baath regime systematically delayed registering deaths in civil records to prolong families’ suffering.

Victims often had two recorded dates of death: the actual date and a delayed registry date, sometimes years later.

“They were killed and registered without notifying their families, leaving them in a state of false hope and ongoing anguish,” Abdul Ghany said.

The existence of mass graves further complicates the situation. While only a few graves have been uncovered, rumors persist about the presence of many more across Syria. Identifying bodies and matching them to the families of the disappeared is a complex and painstaking process.

Ghany dismissed speculation about secret underground prisons, stating that all facilities under the regime’s control were opened after December 8.

“There is no one left in these facilities, nor are there any secret prisons,” he said, urging caution against false hope regarding missing persons.

Since its establishment in 2011, the SNHR has documented systematic human rights violations in Syria, working tirelessly to provide clarity for thousands of families waiting for news of their loved ones. — Agencies