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The SJAC Weekly Update- May 28, 2013

Documenting torture in Raqqa

Documents, prison cells,

interrogation rooms, and torture

devices. Thats what Human

Rights Watch researchers

found when they visited Syrian

security and intelligence facilities

in Raqqa city last month. The

discoveries not only match up

with local testimony, but also fit

within systematic patterns of a state policy of torture. HRWs

report, with its evidence and recommendations for next steps, is a

useful case study showing how documentation can lead to

accountability.

The Raqqa State Security and Military Intelligence premises, in an

area now controlled by opposition fighters, contained what

appeared to be detention rooms, solitary confinement cells, and a

bsat al-reeh torture device pictured above. There were also

numerous documents found on the premises, including not only the

names of those who worked at the facility, but also a list of recent

Raqqa college graduates. The Raqqa visit is only the latest in

HRWs investigation into torture by the Syrian regime. Last July, the

81-page Torture Archipelago report documented, among other

things, 27 different governmental detention centers.

Its clear that steps must be taken to ensure that these discoveries

have an impact on future justice and accountability efforts. First and

foremost, it is critically important to protect the documents. HRW

emphasizes that efforts are needed to safeguard potential

evidence of torture and arbitrary detention. With evidence and

documentation destroyed everyday in Syria, this wont be easy. The

fragility of the political and human rights situation in Raqqa was

Arabic resourcesfor documenters

Visit the SJAC's Resources Pageto access our growing collectionof Arabic-language resources on

documentation and transitionaljustice. Below are some examplesof the kind of documents we're

aggregating.

Overview on transitional justicetheory, processes, andmechanisms from theInternational Center for

Transitional Justice here.

Advice on best practicesfor conducting interviews by

WITNESS here.

RSSTranslate

http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/05/16/syria-visit-reveals-torture-chambershttp://www.hrw.org/news/2013/05/16/syria-visit-reveals-torture-chambershttp://www.hrw.org/news/2013/05/16/syria-visit-reveals-torture-chambershttp://www.hrw.org/news/2013/05/16/syria-visit-reveals-torture-chambershttp://blog.syriaaccountability.org/http://syriaaccountability.org/http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=60569b6d523ba80f46a288a64&id=bdeef46685&e=d22ed61cbd#translatehttp://us6.campaign-archive1.com/feed?u=60569b6d523ba80f46a288a64&id=0a7405c641https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/702312-witness-best-practices-10-points-for-conducting.htmlhttps://www.documentcloud.org/documents/702312-witness-best-practices-10-points-for-conducting.htmlhttps://www.documentcloud.org/documents/702723-ictj-global-transitional-justice-2009-arabic.htmlhttps://www.documentcloud.org/documents/702723-ictj-global-transitional-justice-2009-arabic.htmlhttps://www.documentcloud.org/documents/702723-ictj-global-transitional-justice-2009-arabic.htmlhttp://www.hrw.org/news/2013/05/16/syria-visit-reveals-torture-chambershttp://www.hrw.org/news/2013/05/16/syria-visit-reveals-torture-chambershttp://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=60569b6d523ba80f46a288a64&id=bdeef46685&e=d22ed61cbd#translatehttp://us6.campaign-archive1.com/feed?u=60569b6d523ba80f46a288a64&id=0a7405c641https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/702312-witness-best-practices-10-points-for-conducting.htmlhttps://www.documentcloud.org/documents/702312-witness-best-practices-10-points-for-conducting.htmlhttps://www.documentcloud.org/documents/702723-ictj-global-transitional-justice-2009-arabic.htmlhttps://www.documentcloud.org/documents/702723-ictj-global-transitional-justice-2009-arabic.htmlhttp://syriaaccountability.org/en/reports/http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/05/16/syria-visit-reveals-torture-chambershttp://www.hrw.org/news/2012/07/03/syria-torture-centers-revealedhttp://www.hrw.org/news/2013/05/16/syria-visit-reveals-torture-chambershttp://blog.syriaaccountability.org/http://syriaaccountability.org/

7/28/2019 Documenting Torture in Raqqa - The SJAC Weekly Update

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5/29/13 11:3ocumenting torture in Raqqa - The SJAC Weekly Update

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underscored recently by the abduction of Abdullah al-

Khalil, described by AmnestyUK as a lawyer defending political

prisoners and promoting human rights. Its unknown whether al-

Khalil was kidnapped by the regime (again) or by political

competition from other opposition groups in Raqqa. Either way, the

situation is extremely difficult for those working to document rights

violations.KEEP READING. Outline of steps involved inestablishing truth-seeking

processes from InternationalCenter for Transitional

Justice here.

Follow on Twtter@SJAC_info

The SJAC is an independent, non-political, Syrian-led, and multi-laterally supported organization that serves as a

coordinating body for all actors promoting transitional justice and accountability for Syria. The SJAC provides

vetted, accurate data on human rights violations occurring on all sides of the conflict in Syria. The SJAC expertise

and data is used in the transitional justice process for Syria.

Our mailing address is: info@syriaaccountability.org

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Copyright 2013 Syria Justice and Accountability Centre, All rights reserved.

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