Torture Photos from "Caesar"

On January 21, 2014, the media grew abuzz with startling news of "industrial scale" killing of at least 11,000 Syrian prisoners by their government, proven to an unusual degree by actual photographs and a rigorous study by credible investigators of such crimes. The claims are lodged originally by an alleged defector - code-named "Ceasar" - in possession of thousands of photos he says here taken, by him, in the Syrian prison system where he worked. With funding from Qatar, the claim was bolstered with the hire of Western war crimes prosecutors who commissioned a ("CONFIDENTIAL") report that seems a bit short on rigor and long on trusting "Caesar's" characterization of things. (deeper analysis pending)

The photographs, as far as can be seen, seem legitimately to prove systematic torture, as noted including various bodily injuries, starvation, and finally various kinds of execution. It seems evident these crimes are being carried out, and merit close scrutiny. But with this report of questionable integrity being precisely the scrutiny thus far, there is great reason to doubt just when and where the photos were taken, by whom, of whom, and under what circumstances.

The report and its (simply laundered?) allegations were first aired on the 21st exclusively through CNN and the Guardian, and have received enthusiastic support from the mainstream media. World leaders are taking advantage of the fallout as they position themselves for the grand and much-touted Geneva conference on ending the war. As the Western powers insist on a new Syrian government (agreed to somehow by "both sides") as the basis of any agreement, it should be noted this report blames the massive and just-revealed crimes on "the current Syrian regime."

The Defector and the Photographs
(forthcoming...)

The Report and Media Promotion
(forthcoming...) Title: A Report into the credibility of certain evidence with regard to Torture and Execution of Persons Incarcerated by the current Syrian regime (Prepared for Carter-­‐Ruck and Co. Solicitors of London.)

The report is marked on each page "CONFIDENTIAL," but this stringest measure was waived in the interest of bringing "Caesar's" important allegations before the global public. This was done through two media outlets - CNN in the United States, and the Guardian in the UK.
 * CNN PDF link(file name: Syria Board of Inquiry Doha PDF)
 * Guardian online readable posting
 * Guardian PDF link

Interestingly, the Qatari-owned al-Jazeera was relegated, along with the rest, to follower status on this story. This may suggest the seriousness with which the house of Thani has approached this information offensive against "the current Syrian regime."


 * CNN article: EXCLUSIVE: Gruesome Syria photos may prove torture by Assad regime

World Reaction
(forthcoming...)

ACLOS Findings
(forthcoming...)