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Former Syrian Officer Urges U.S. to Lift Sanctions

A former military officer associated with the Assad regime, who escaped with substantial evidence of government atrocities, has made a plea for the United States to reconsider its sanctions on Syria. In a recent interview with Al Jazeera, the officer, who revealed his identity as Farid Nada al-Madhan, spoke out against the impact of these sanctions.

Madhan, until now only known by the codename “Caesar,” was the head of the judicial department for military police in Damascus. In an effort to protect his identity and that of his family, he had maintained a low profile, often appearing in public while obscured by a distinctive blue hoodie.

As a military photographer, Madhan documented the grim realities of life under the Assad regime, capturing images of those who suffered brutal torture and death. Over a span of two years, he successfully smuggled out USB drives laden with photographs, revealing the deaths of at least 6,786 individuals while in detention.

The risks Madhan faced were substantial; he often concealed these images within his clothing and other items to evade detection at checkpoints. “I was hiding images in my clothes, bread bags and on my person, for fear of being searched at checkpoints,” Madhan disclosed. His role in the security services, coupled with the fact that he resided in an area controlled by opposition forces, necessitated the creation of a fake civilian ID to navigate through dangerous territories.

At one critical moment, Madhan found himself recognized by an opposition soldier at a checkpoint, a former handyman he had employed. Despite Madhan’s affiliation with the regime, the soldier allowed him to pass, though the encounter left Madhan profoundly unsettled.

In 2013, after accruing enough evidence and feeling the weight of persistent danger, Madhan chose to defect from the regime. His journey took him from Syria to Jordan, and eventually to Qatar, where he partnered with a law firm to utilize the photographs in pursuing accountability for the atrocities committed by the Assad regime.

The images he brought to light, first disclosed in 2014, became pivotal in illustrating the harsh realities of the Assad regime’s detention practices, which were intensified as part of the government’s response to the uprising that began in 2011. Human Rights Watch has reported that the 6,786 documented victims originated from just five intelligence branches in Damascus alone.

Madhan observed a drastic increase in the number of bodies processed at these facilities during the uprising. He noted that while initial numbers stood at around 10 to 15 bodies brought in daily, this surged to approximately 50 by 2013. Most of these cases were recorded as “cardiac arrest,” a term that evolved into a euphemism for deaths resulting from torture.

Overall, rights organizations estimate that about 136,000 individuals have been detained by the Assad regime, with numerous others unaccounted for following a rebel offensive that resulted in the breaching of state prisons on December 8.

The harrowing truths unveiled through Madhan’s photographs gave rise to the U.S. “Caesar Act” in 2019, which imposed sanctions on Syrian officials and anyone engaged in extensive dealings with the Assad regime. While these sanctions were designed to target key individuals, many experts believe they have adversely affected everyday Syrians, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

The recent leadership in Damascus, now under president Ahmed al-Sharaa, who was formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has urged the U.S. to lift these sanctions. The U.S. has responded by easing restrictions in specific humanitarian areas while the EU has expressed a willingness to monitor developments concerning the protection of minority groups and the establishment of an inclusive government in Syria.

Madhan reiterated his call for the lifting of sanctions and expressed hope that the new government in Damascus would initiate “national courts that will prosecute and hold perpetrators of war crimes accountable.”

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