Daraya: Bericht über syrisches Massaker vor zehn Jahren

Vor zehn Jahren fand im Daraya, einem Vorort von Damaskus, ein Massaker syrischer Sicherheitskräfte an Zivilisten statt. Zehn Jahre später liegt nun ein detaillierter Bericht vor, was damals genau geschah:

The “startling display of violence” meted out by Syrian government forces against civilians in the town of Daraya 10 years ago has been laid bare in the first detailed investigation into the massacre.

At least 700 people were killed when forces loyal to president Bashar al-Assad stormed the town between 24 and 26 August 2012. Troops went door to door killing and detaining men, women and children. Terrified people sheltered in basements.

To mark the 10th anniversary of the atrocity, a team of investigators from Syria, or of Syrian descent, backed by the Syrian British Consortium (SBC) advocacy group, tracked down survivors and witnesses scattered around the world to record and analyse their testimonies. Some of the investigators’ names have been changed for security reasons.

The team hopes the findings, published on Thursday, will be used by UN bodies and other legal institutions to prosecute some of those responsible.

“This report records the atrocities perpetrated in Daraya based on the testimony of witnesses and victims, thereby memorialising their accounts and maintaining a record for posterity,” said the report.

“It also showcases that despite the passage of 10 years and the collection of substantial evidence, accountability and justice continue to elude the people of Daraya. Despite their disappointment in the international system, witnesses provided their testimony, recounting the heinous crimes committed in Daraya by their own government, based on their belief that their story – their truth – is not only worthy of documentation, but may one day assist in bringing justice and accountability.”