“Injustice Unveiled: Commemorating the International Day for the Disappeared in Beirut”

Families Demand Justice for Victims of Enforced Disappearances in the Middle East

The Plight of the Disappeared

Representatives of families whose loved ones have been forcibly disappeared in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen recently gathered in Beirut to call on their governments to uphold their rights to truth, justice, and reparation. These families, who have been fighting for answers and justice for years, are united in their pain and their demand for accountability. The event, organized by Amnesty International to mark the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, shed light on the disturbing prevalence of enforced disappearances in the Middle East.

Enforced Disappearances as a Tool of Oppression

Both state authorities and non-state actors, such as armed opposition groups, have used enforced disappearances as a means to crush dissent, maintain power, and spread terror within societies. The perpetrators of these crimes often act with impunity, as most governments in the region have failed to thoroughly investigate disappearances or provide accurate numbers of those missing or disappeared.

The estimated number of individuals abducted and disappeared in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen is staggering. When multiplied by the years these individuals have been missing, it suggests that families have collectively spent over a million years waiting for answers. This agonizing length of time highlights the urgent need for action to address this issue.

The Fight for Truth and Justice

Despite the apathy and complicity of their governments, the families of the disappeared across the Middle East have courageously led the charge in demanding their right to know what happened to their loved ones and to seek justice and reparation. In many cases, they have put their lives at risk to advocate for accountability. Aya Majzoub, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, commended their perseverance and called for authorities to take real action.

The Iraqi Struggle for Answers

In Iraq, the number of disappearances is estimated to be between 250,000 and 1,000,000 since 1968, making it one of the countries with the highest number of disappearances in the world. Disappearances continue to occur today at the hands of militias affiliated with the government. The Iraqi government has repeatedly failed to meaningfully address these disappearances or hold those responsible accountable. Widad Shammari, a representative from the Iraqi organization Al Haq Foundation for Human Rights, emphasized the importance of collective action in the fight for truth.

Lebanon’s Struggle for Acknowledgement

In Lebanon, the civil war that took place between 1975 and 1990 resulted in an estimated 17,415 abductions or disappearances. Although the Lebanese authorities granted amnesty to the perpetrators of crimes committed during the civil war, the families of the disappeared successfully campaigned for the government to acknowledge the disappearances. In 2018, a law was passed to establish the National Commission for the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared, but it requires adequate support and resources to carry out its mandate, as Wadad Halawani, a leader of the Committee of the Kidnapped and Missing in Lebanon, emphasized.

The Syrian Quest for International Justice

In Syria, tens of thousands of individuals have been forcibly disappeared since 2011 as part of a systematic attack against the civilian population. These disappearances have been attributed to both Syrian authorities and armed opposition groups. The families of the disappeared have turned to international justice mechanisms for accountability. In a significant victory, the UN General Assembly voted to establish an international institution dedicated to shedding light on the fate of those missing and disappeared since the start of the armed conflict in Syria. Fadwa Mahmoud, a representative from Families for Freedom, highlighted the crucial role of the families in achieving this milestone.

Yemen’s Ongoing Struggle

In Yemen, since 2015, over 1,500 cases of disappearances have been documented. All parties to the conflict, including Huthi de facto authorities and internationally recognized government forces, continue to commit these crimes with impunity. Efforts to hold those responsible accountable and provide reparations to victims have stalled since the end of the mandate of the Group of Eminent Experts in 2021. The Abductees’ Mothers Association in Yemen remains determined to fight for truth and justice, not only for their own loved ones but for all the disappeared in the region.

Conclusion: The Urgency of Action

The stories of the families of the disappeared in the Middle East are a testament to the enduring fight for justice in the face of government apathy and complicity. The sustained efforts of these families and the support of human rights organizations like Amnesty International call for immediate action from authorities. It is essential that governments in the Middle East vigorously investigate all cases of enforced disappearances, hold those suspected of criminal responsibility accountable, and provide assistance to the families of the disappeared. Without meaningful action, the cycle of impunity and terror will persist, leaving countless families in anguish and denying them the closure and justice they deserve.

References:

• Amnesty International: Million years waiting for answers

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