School attire for children hung on the door while their study materials rested on the desks. Neglected toys covered in dust remained scattered on the floor of Rania’s apartment in Syria, as discovered by her sister, Naila Al-Abbasi, about 12 years after Rania and her six children were taken into the former regime’s secretive network of prisons and detention centers.
Naila, who had journeyed from Saudi Arabia, visited the residence in Dummar Project, an upscale neighborhood northwest of Damascus, on February 25.
Describing the scene, Al-Abbasi shared on Instagram, “The house reeked of death. The walls and curtains appeared sorrowful, as if mourning their separation.”
Every corner was cloaked in grime, with bird remains scattered on the floor, marking what was once a lively abode for six children: Dima, 13; Entisar, 12; Najah, 11; Alaa, 8; Ahmed, 6; and Layan, 1.
For years, Rania’s brother, Hassan Al-Abbasi, has been seeking information about their whereabouts.
Since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December, Hassan has actively searched for the children. However, his inquiries have remained unanswered, leaving the family in the dark about their fate since March 2013.
Speaking from Ottawa, Hassan told CBC News, “The situation is very challenging, as none of the children have surfaced, and it was the first time our family entered the home in 12 years. It was extremely distressing.”
Probable Transfer of Children to Orphanages
On March 9, 2013, Rania Al-Abbasi’s husband, Abdul Rahman Yasin, was arrested by Assad’s military intelligence at their residence. Subsequently, the intelligence officers looted their belongings, including gold, money, vehicles, electronics, and personal documents.
Two days later, Al-Abbasi, her children, and her secretary Majdoline Al-Qady were also apprehended by intelligence personnel.
The parents were charged with providing humanitarian aid during the Syrian revolution that began in March 2011, thrusting Al-Abbasi into the spotlight as one of the most notable cases of disappeared detainees in Syria.
Hassan speculates that the children might have stayed with Rania in detention before potentially being moved to orphanages or care facilities, where their identities and origins were likely erased. However, due to restricted access to organizational records, verification remains unattainable.
The vanishing of entire families stands as one of the many atrocities committed during Assad’s oppressive regime.
Several years ago, the Syrian Network for Human Rights received reports of this practice, implicating institutions like SOS Children’s Villages Syria.
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