Torture Photos from "Caesar"/Photo Timeline

The following seeks to organize at least many of the "Caesar" photos into a timeline and correlate details as possible. The pictures database of the Syrian Association for Missing and Conscience Detainees (SAFMCD) is used for reference, along with previously published photos, claimed identifications, opposition VDC entries, and other sources.

All folders at the SAFMCD site (auto-translated from Arabic), in order of size:
 * 215 - secret raids and intrusions - 3,556 photos
 * 227 - Zone Branch (Damascus) - 2,047 photos
 * Air Force Intelligence Branch - 390 photos
 * 216 - periodicals Branch - 297
 * 235 - Palestine Branch - 128
 * "Anonymous branch": 109
 * 251 - Internal branch - the state security: 103
 * "Sporadic views": 71
 * 248 - military investigation Branch - 54
 * 220 - Sasa branch: 50
 * Military Police Branch: 45

Total photos = 6,850. All but a very few are victim face-shots, with very few repetitions (at least six cases, but citation needed). Therefore, estimates of alleged detainees of these branches in the mid-to-upper 6,000 range seem well supported.

Furthermore, the time-span seems limited. Images are said to run back to early 2012, but it seems so far very few images appear (in folders dated) before November 1, 2012. However, that's a giant folder and stretches back over an unclear span. From there they come in heavily, with folder names like 3-2013, 7-7-2013, and running up to August 14, 2013 - so covering mainly a nine-month span, depending when all the images in the November folder were taken (dates seem to be when created, and even that's not necessarily correct).

At right is a graphic to explain the numbers referred to below. The top victim number, allegedly, was assigned by the branch of military intelligence indicated below that. The bottom number is set at hospital 601 morgue, apparently by the team taking the "Caesar" photos. "SAFMCD code #" is their index, irrelevant, but useful for searches etc. (on each photo of theirs in red). "Original name" is the photo title as given by SAFMCD with each linked entry. It seems to say branch-victim#-date(d-mm-yyyy)-(number in sequence of photos of the same victim?). As for the victim the numbers in this photo are attached to, see Branch 227 below.

Select and random victims by branch number (in the order above), then victim number.

Branch 215
some unclear strays to work in (re-set points, typos, or what?):


 * 0 -- none -- 806948 http://www.safmcd.com/martyr/view.php?id=3976 -- 215-000-2-12-2012 (2)
 * 0 -- none -- 686239 -- 215-000-2-2013 (9) -- young
 * 8 -- -- 274882 http://www.safmcd.com/martyr/view.php?id=3988 -- 215-0008-7-6-2013 (2)
 * 11 -- -- 774319 http://www.safmcd.com/martyr/view.php?id=3990 -- 215-11-14-8-2013 (2) -- left eye?
 * 131 137832 -- 215-131-3-2013 (2)
 * 197 -- 377904 http://www.safmcd.com/martyr/view.php?id=3996 -- 215-197-2-2013 (2)
 * 829 453067 -- 215-829-2-2013 (2)

The Other Half
All above sections deal with the half (28,707) of the "Caesar" photos (per HRW's December report) showing an estimated 6,786 alleged government detainees. A slightly smaller half (24568) was said by HRW to show "attack sites or of bodies identified by name as of government soldiers, other armed fighters, or civilians killed in attacks, explosions, or assassination attempts." It seems perhaps none of these have been publicly released. Here's a table in case any turn up.

By Hospital Number
Verifying the Switch at 5,000

Hospital Numbers Timeline


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Early Entries Re-Branded?

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