The direct legal support program did not begin with the establishment of the Nophotozone Organization in 2018 but rather with the outbreak of the Syrian revolution. Nophotozone, as an organization, was a continuation of this program, which has assisted 540 beneficiaries, including 399 males and 141 females. 

For years, the legal team in Damascus carried the burden of defending detainees, searching for the missing, providing legal consultations, and handling administrative procedures and civil status issues in relevant courts. 

Working with an organization like Nophotozone, which defends detainees, constantly exposed the team to the risk of persecution and arrest under the previous regime. Such activities were considered a crime, potentially leading to trials on terrorism charges for “funding terrorism.” This forced Nophotozone to adopt the highest protection standards to provide support without endangering the team or beneficiaries. Consequently, the organization refrained from publicizing its work inside Syria, keeping its most critical activities secret for years. 

In recognition of the team’s efforts and their belief in the mission, despite the risks, we now share a summary of our legal work before the regime’s fall: 

• Defending Detainees in Anti-Terrorism Courts

Detainees, after being forced to confess under torture, were referred to terrorism courts, where these confessions were often the sole basis for charges, violating Syrian and international laws that prohibit the use of confessions obtained under duress. The absence of an appellate judge in terrorism courts further complicated the defence process. If a verdict was issued in absentia and the defendant was later arrested, they were not retried, denying them the right to defend themselves, contrary to Syrian and international legal principles. 

Despite these challenges, we secured acquittals, reduced sentences, and even overturned death penalties for some detainees. 

Many Syrians viewed terrorism courts as another security branch, fearing retaliation for testifying. This made it difficult to convince witnesses to testify to prove a defendant’s innocence or reduce their sentence. The team undertook complex efforts to locate and persuade witnesses, assuring them of their safety. 

The team also faced harassment from government entities while following up on cases or documents related to detainees. 

• Prison Visits 

Visiting detainees was crucial for gathering statements, understanding the circumstances of their arrest, and identifying evidence of their innocence. Psychologically, these visits reassured detainees that someone was advocating for them, significantly boosting their morale.

•  Searching for the Missing 

Searching for the forcibly disappeared was one of the most challenging tasks due to the lack of reliable sources. Initially, searches focused on military police files. After the abolition of the Military Field Court, searches concentrated on four sources: 

1. Immigration and Passports Department: To track arrest warrants and their origins.
2. Civil Registry: Since 2017, death certificates for detainees were registered here.
3. Military Judiciary Court: To identify detainees referred to military courts.
4. Anti-Terrorism Court: To determine the fate of those tried in terrorism courts without their families’ knowledge.

• Personal Status Cases 

The legal team resolved complex personal status issues, particularly for families of detainees and the missing, especially refugees abroad who lacked the financial means to obtain essential documents. These included: 

– Marriage registration 

– Divorce registration 

– Birth and death registration 

– Issuing legal guardianships 

– Extracting civil documents: individual records, family records, marriage certificates, death certificates, and divorce certificates.