Thursday, October 18, 2012

28,000 Syrians ‘disappeared’ by Assad forces - Salon.com:

Since the uprising in Syria began over a year and a half ago, up to 28,000 Syrians have disappeared. Human rights groups say the civilians, particularly activists, have been abducted by Assad’s forces, and are feared dead or imprisoned facing torture. The Guardian reported:

A harrowing film released on Thursday by the global campaign network Avaaz shows disturbing footage of forced disappearances. In one incident, three soldiers grab two women dressed in black abayas walking down a street. They hit them and drag them away. In another, soldiers abduct a Syrian man, yanking him by the hair past a tank.

Alice Jay, Avaaz’s campaign director, said: “Syrians are being plucked off the street by Syrian security forces and paramilitaries and being ‘disappeared’ into torture cells. Whether it is women buying groceries or farmers going for fuel, nobody is safe.”