Childhoods of Syria: After the end of the Syrian revolution, numerous files began to surface, revealing shocking secrets and hidden truths that many were unaware of. From secret prisons and mass graves to other heartbreaking stories that are hard to believe, among the most painful were those related to orphaned children and the alteration of their identities and names.
In a recent report Mays Ajeeb, director of the “Melody of Life” center, highlighted that the regime, with special oversight from Asma al-Assad, the wife of Bashar al-Assad, systematically targeted children of detainees and exiled opposition figures, as well as those whose families were killed during the war, in addition to abducted children. These children were placed in orphanages resembling detention centers, without any public disclosure of their whereabouts.
Bara’a Al-Ayoubi, director of “Al-Rahma Home,” stated that security forces transported these children in military vehicles from security centers to such orphanages, instructing their administrators not to reveal any information about them or discuss their fate.
In some cases, relatives who were aware of the presence of their children in these centers were prohibited from contacting them or the administration, or even removing them from the orphanages, unless they obtained permission from the relevant ministries. Moreover, children were often transferred by security forces to unknown locations or sent abroad.
Additionally, the regime sought to instill its ideologies in these children. These crimes expose the extent of the regime’s corruption and its criminal actions against children, underscoring the urgent need for justice and accountability for those responsible.
Responsible entities are working to reach out to the families and relatives of the remaining children in orphanages, aiming to reunite them with their families and reintegrate them into their communities.