DAMASCUS

They walked out of Assad’s prisons alive—only to discover that, in the eyes of the state, they were dead. After years of detention, former Syrian detainees returned to freedom only to face a new battle: proving they are still alive. Some found that their names had been entered into civil registries as deceased and that death certificates had been issued in their names. Others appeared on lists of prisoners reported dead in detention. This investigation documents the struggle of former Syrian detainees to reclaim their legal identities and civil rights, as they navigate complex court procedures and costs that many simply cannot afford.