Published TUESDAY, December 31, 2024: 'Search For The Disappeared' Pictures by 4 time Pulitzer Prize winning ZUMA Press photographer Carol Guzy in Damascus: Images of tortured victims bodies cover the the outside walls of Al-Mujtahid Hospital in central Damascus. Every day, since the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's regime, a crowd of family members mothers, sisters, fathers, brothers come together to examine this wall of horror. They look closely at the disfigured corpses with smashed faces some with no eyes, in the hope of recognizing a lost loved one who disappeared into Syria's notorious prison system during the 13 year civil war. On December 8, a rebel offensive led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ousted President Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates more than 100,000 people died in Syrian prisons during a brutal regime. Welcome to: 'Search For The Disappeared'
© zReportage.com Issue #970 Story of the Week: Published TUESDAY, December 31, 2024: 'Search For The Disappeared' Pictures by 4 time Pulitzer Prize winning ZUMA Press photographer Carol Guzy in Damascus: Images of tortured victims bodies cover the the outside walls of Al-Mujtahid Hospital in central Damascus. Every day, since the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's regime, a crowd of family members mothers, sisters, fathers, brothers come together to examine this wall of horror. They look closely at the disfigured corpses with smashed faces some with no eyes, in the hope of recognizing a lost loved one who disappeared into Syria's notorious prison system during the 13 year civil war. On December 8, a rebel offensive led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ousted President Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates more than 100,000 people died in Syrian prisons during a brutal regime. Welcome to: 'Search For The Disappeared'

Syrians take part in a Day of Mourning for lost loved ones after the end of in streets of Damascus, after the brutal Assad regime was ousted. An offensive spearheaded by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and supported mainly by the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army as part of the ongoing Syrian civil war that began in 2011.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

FARAH ARABI KATBI holds a sign with photos of her friends as Syrians take part in a Day of Mourning for lost loved ones at Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. An offensive spearheaded by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and supported mainly by the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army as part of the ongoing Syrian civil war that began in 2011.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

A man with a Syrian flag, behind pictures of the disappeared. As Syrians take part in a Day of Mourning for lost loved ones in the streets of Damascus. after the brutal Assad regime was ousted.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

A boy waves a Syria flag from his fathers soldiers, as people celebrate the end of a brutal regime at the central square in the streets of Damascus. On December 8, 2024 the brutal Assad regime was ousted. An offensive spearheaded by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and supported mainly by the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army as part of the ongoing Syrian civil war that began in 2011.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

A smiling happy young woman celebrating and holding an AK-47 machine gun as Syrians celebrate in Damascus. On December 8, 2024 the brutal Assad regime was ousted. An offensive spearheaded by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and supported mainly by the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army as part of the ongoing Syrian civil war that began in 2011.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

An elderly woman holding a Syrian flag and a plastic fan as Syrians celebrate their freedom in the streets of Damascus after the brutal Assad regime was ousted. The capture of Damascus marked the end of the Assad family's rule, which had governed Syria as a hereditary sectarian totalitarian regime since H. al-Assad assumed power in 1971 following a coup d'etat.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

A teenage boy with a temporary tattoo on his face of the Syrian flag, as Syrians celebrate their freedom in the streets of Damascus days after the brutal Assad regime was ousted. The capture of Damascus marked the end of the Assad family's rule, which had governed Syria as a hereditary sectarian totalitarian regime since H. al-Assad assumed power in 1971 following a coup d'etat.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Barb wire fence at the notorious Sednaya prison where countless men disappeared amid accounts of torture during the Assad brutal regime. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates more than 100,000 people died in Syrian prisons and now desperate family members search for their loved ones.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Outside the notorious Sednaya prison where countless men disappeared amid accounts of torture during the Assad brutal regime. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates more than 100,000 people died in Syrian prisons and now desperate family members search for their loved ones.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

WALEED SHWAIB weeps for the son she buried recently after finding him at the Moujtahed Hospital morgue among the prisoners bodies that were recovered from Sednaya Prison after the fall of Assad. Disabled and living amid the debris of war with assistance from two other sons.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Desperate family members search for their disappeared loved ones at the Damascus Hospital morgue among bodies recovered from Saydnaya prison that showed signs of torture and malnutrition in Damascus. A rebel offensive led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ousted Syrian President B. al-Assad. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates more than 100,000 people died in Syrian prisons during a brutal regime.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Desperate family members search for their disappeared loved ones at the Damascus Hospital morgue among bodies recovered from Saydnaya prison that showed signs of torture and malnutrition.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates more than 100,000 people died in Syrian prisons during a brutal regime.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Members of the White Helmets load unclaimed bodies of prisoners recovered from Sednaya at the Moujtahed Hospital morgue in Damascus Syria. Desperate family members search for their disappeared loved ones but most do not find the closure or peace they seek from being able to properly bury them.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

The Syrian Military Intelligence Palestine Branch 235 was a jail for political prisoners during a brutal regime where countless men disappeared amid accounts of torture in Damascus. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates more than 100,000 people died in Syrian prisons and now desperate family members search for their disappeared loved ones.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

A rebel fighter points to prisoner graffiti inside the Syrian Military Intelligence Palestine Branch 235 in Damascus, which was a jail for political prisoners during a brutal regime where countless men disappeared amid accounts of torture. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates more than 100,000 people died in Syrian prisons and now desperate family members search for their disappeared loved ones.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Children' shoes and clothes in cells at the Syrian Military Intelligence Palestine Branch 235 that was a jail for political prisoners during a brutal regime where countless men disappeared amid accounts of torture in Damascus. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates more than 100,000 people died in Syrian prisons and now desperate family members search for their disappeared loved ones.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Desperate family members search for their disappeared loved ones at the Moujtahed Hospital morgue among bodies recovered from Saydnaya prison that showed signs of torture and malnutrition. A rebel offensive led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ousted Syrian President B. al-Assad. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates more than 100,000 people died in Syrian prisons during a brutal regime.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

A picture of a victim on prison wall, as desperate family members search for their disappeared loved ones at the Damascus Hospital morgue among bodies recovered from Saydnaya prison that showed signs of torture and malnutrition. A rebel offensive led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ousted Syrian President B. al-Assad. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates more than 100,000 people died in Syrian prisons during a brutal regime.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

People put posters of loved ones they are desperately searching for at Marjeh Square in Damascus. Photos are fading along with hopes of finding them alive or at least the closure of a proper burial after a rebel offensive led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ousted President Bashar al-Assad.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Rebel soldiers and Syrians pray at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. A rebel offensive led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ousted President Bashar al-Assad.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

A rebel soldier with rifle and wearing military fatigues holds a single rose as Syrians pray at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. A rebel offensive led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ousted President Bashar al-Assad.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

KHALID SHWAIB prays over the grave of his brother Sami who they buried recently after finding him at the Moujtahed Hospital morgue among the prisoners bodies that were recovered from Sednaya Prison after the fall of Assad. He is disabled and living amid the debris of war. He was not able to attend the funeral but at least feels some peace knowing there was a proper burial, the closure that will be denied to so very many other desperate families.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Birds fly overhead as Syrian people put posters of loved ones they are desperately searching for at Marjeh Square in Damascus. Photos are fading along with hopes of finding them alive or at least the closure of a proper burial.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

AMINA DARWEESH is desperately searching for her son with other families that left posters at Marjeh Square in Damascus of missing loved ones. Photos are fading along with hopes of finding them alive or at least the closure of a proper burial.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Desperate family members search for their disappeared loved ones at the Damascus Hospital morgue among bodies recovered from Saydnaya prison that showed signs of torture and malnutrition in Damascus. A rebel offensive led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ousted President Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates more than 100,000 people died in Syrian prisons during a brutal regime.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Desperate family members search for their disappeared loved ones at the Moujtahed Hospital morgue among bodies recovered from Saydnaya prison that showed signs of torture and malnutrition in Damascus. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates more than 100,000 people died in Syrian prisons during a brutal regime.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

MARIAM, who lost her brother weeps as she and other desperate family members search for their disappeared loved ones at the Damascus Hospital morgue among bodies recovered from Saydnaya prison that showed signs of torture and malnutrition. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates more than 100,000 people died in Syrian prisons during a brutal regime.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

HYTHAM SHAMDEEN AGHA, father of Mouhamed Majed, who was a prisoner is greeted at a memorial service held in his honor in Damascus. His mother held onto hope they would find him alive and say they cannot find peace or closure without being able to give his body a proper burial. Majed was employed in the university of Damascus (sharia of Islamic studies) and he was arrested and dragged from his home at the beginning of 2013 at last placed at Sednaya prison. His parents tried to visit but can't even after they gave a lot of money. His wife sold her gold bracelet but they never saw him again.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

NOUR AL-AHMAD weeps as desperate family members search for their disappeared loved ones at the Moujtahed Hospital morgue among bodies recovered from Saydnaya prison that showed signs of torture and malnutrition in Damascus. Her brother was arrested in Mazzeh in 2013 and it is still unknown whether he is dead or alive. A rebel offensive led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ousted Syrian President B. al-Assad. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates more than 100,000 people died in Syrian prisons during a brutal regime.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

HOUDA and AHMED AL RIFAI talk about their son Mouhanad Soulyman at their home, who was a prisoner under the Assad regime. They learned he had died at the notorious Sednaya prison. Mouhanad was missing since February 18, 2013 at 22 years old and they haven't seen him since he was arrested while peacefully protesting. They said a worker at Sednaya took photos of all the prisoners who perished, and they believe he was caught and executed. After the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024, the photos were published on Facebook and it is how they learned of his death. Mouhanad's wife Fatima was pregnant and her husband passed away without ever meeting his new baby who is now 13 years old. He said he wishes he could hug his dad.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

Art on floor of deposed Syrian leader President BASHAR AL-ASSAD at the Syrian Military Intelligence Branch 215, a jail for political prisoners during a brutal regime where countless men disappeared amid accounts of torture in Damascus. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates more than 100,000 people died in Syrian prisons and now desperate family members search for their disappeared loved ones.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

A broken bust of Assad lays on the ground at the Syrian Military Intelligence Branch 215 was a jail for political prisoners during a brutal regime where countless men disappeared amid accounts of torture in Damascus. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates more than 100,000 people died in Syrian prisons and now desperate family members search for their disappeared loved ones.
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire

A wake is held at Aldemashqiah Funeral Home for 13 prisoners that families learned had died at the notorious Sednaya prison in Damascus. They said a worker at Sednaya took photos of all the prisoners who perished, and they believe he was caught and executed. After the fall of Assad, the photos were published on Facebook and it is how many learned of the death of their loved ones. His father Saied Mardini said, 'Some people say that Hitler is the worst person that ever lived' Basshar Al Assad is far more evil than Hitler himself, he's the source of all of the evil in the world. Though we didn't have the public opinion and news and internet at the time of Hitler, it is so strange that Assad had the audacity to commit these war crimes while we have these media and technologies. He never stopped committing crimes, seems like didn't matter to him.'
© Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire