The Damaskus Dossier leak, exposing Bashar al-Assad's regime's brutality against its own population, could serve as key evidence in future legal cases. Prosecutor Reena Devgun from the unit against international and organized crime has investigated similar Syrian material before. She highlights the documentation's immense value for justice.
Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, the leak known as the Damaskus Dossier has drawn significant attention. It includes images and documents revealing the regime's horrific treatment of prisoners, including torture and killing of over 10,000 missing Syrians. This material provides concrete evidence of long-suspected brutality.
Reena Devgun, a prosecutor with Sweden's unit against international and organized crime, has hands-on experience with similar investigations. She previously handled a Syrian image leak that led to sanctions and convictions against high-ranking regime officials. In an interview with Uppdrag granskning, she states: “This type of documentation can become incredibly important.”
Devgun's work illustrates how such evidence can drive international justice. The leak offers potential answers for relatives searching for loved ones missing since 2012, when protests against the dictatorship escalated. Around 160,000 Syrians are believed to have disappeared during the regime's rule. With the regime now toppled, opportunities arise for new trials where the Damaskus Dossier could play a pivotal role. Experts warn of disturbing images in the material but stress its evidentiary value against the dictatorship.