Bashar al-Assad’s Secret Archive: 8 Million People Were Under Surveillance!

It has been revealed that during the rule of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the country's intelligence services conducted mass and secret surveillance of the population. According to a source from Syria's Ministry of Interior, cited by Germany's Deutsche Welle, shocking and horrifying information has been disclosed.

It turns out that under Assad's regime, the government regularly monitored about one-third of the population, approximately 8 million people, creating extensive archives of their lives, personal information, and political activities. This was, in fact, the largest political surveillance and persecution operation in the country’s history.

According to a Ministry spokesperson, these widespread surveillance activities were mainly carried out for political reasons. Special services focused on opposition figures, those who participated in anti-government protests, critics of the regime, as well as political activists and journalists. Many of them were often accused of terrorism, unlawfully detained, or sentenced to long prison terms.

Most Syrians only realized they were being monitored when they attempted to leave the country or when passing through internal checkpoints. This surveillance system included detailed information about these individuals' personal data, even including their family members and close relatives.

The repressive policies of Bashar al-Assad's regime had been the subject of serious international criticism. The authoritarian rule of the Assad family, which lasted for more than half a century, dramatically ended in late 2024. At that time, the armed group "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham," which was active in the country, managed to capture the capital Damascus and other major cities, successfully overthrowing Assad's regime.

After these events, Bashar al-Assad and his family fled to Russia, effectively ending the long-standing regime in the country. The new leader of the country, Ahmad al-Shara, the former leader of "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham," was appointed. He announced his intention to improve relations with Western countries and change the country's foreign political orientation.

Following this announcement, the United States and the European Union began to lift some of the economic and political sanctions imposed on Syria. These actions are mainly being implemented to support democratic changes in the country.

International experts emphasize that the emergence of new political authority in Syria may open the way for the country to emerge from international isolation and lead to political and economic recovery. Furthermore, international investigations may be conducted into the repressions and human rights violations that occurred during Assad's rule.

However, many complex and serious issues still lie ahead for the country. One of the most important tasks is to restore the rights of millions of people who were victims of surveillance and persecution under Assad's regime and to establish justice for them.

International human rights organizations are also calling for strengthened international cooperation to protect the rights of Syrians and investigate the crimes of the Assad regime. The mass surveillance and repressive policies of Assad’s era are considered serious crimes under international law.

Overall, the revelation of the number of people who suffered under surveillance and persecution during Assad's regime has once again drawn the attention of the international community to the situation in Syria. This puts great responsibility on the new leadership of the country to build a state based on democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Today, Syrians have the opportunity to look to the future with hope, and overcoming these difficulties, along with the support of the international community, is crucial for the country’s democratic transition.