FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 06, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – For over a decade, Caesar, a former Syrian military photographer, risked everything to expose the Assad regime’s systematic torture and mass executions. In 2013, at great personal cost, he smuggled out almost 55,000 photographs documenting the horrors inside Syria’s prisons. This undeniable proof of Assad’s war crimes revealed the true scale of his brutal system of torture and killing.
His bravery not only exposed Assad’s machinery of death but also led to real consequences for the regime. His testimony before the United Nations, U.S. Congress, European Parliament, and the UK Parliament helped bring about the U.S. Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, which holds the true perpetrators accountable.
As expressed by Ambassador Stephen J Rapp, former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues and SETF Board Member: “It is wonderful that our friend Farid is now free to tell the world that he is Caesar, the man whose photographic evidence kept the hope for justice alive for the hundreds of thousands of victims of the Assad regime. It is rare that one man’s courage has meant so much. Without his irrefutable proof there would have been no cases against the torturers who faced justice in western courtrooms even while the regime ran its machinery of death in Damascus. There would have been no tough Caesar sanctions and instead trade and aid would have flowed to Assad enabling him to stay in power and to continue to crush the aspirations of the Syrian people. Farid’s documentation and determination will now assist and inspire a fair process of justice in Syria to hold all of the major perpetrators to account.”
SETF has had the privilege of standing alongside Caesar in his fight for justice, facilitating these testimonies, supporting global accountability efforts, and ensuring the world sees what he risked his life to reveal. Throughout this journey, Caesar alongside SETF has worked with global leaders and human rights advocates in support of an end to the atrocities in Syria.
“I am so proud and honored to work with my friend Farid, a true hero that should inspire all of us to never be silent about injustice. Today, the Syrian Emergency Task Force and Caesar proudly call for the rescinding of the Caesar Act and the lifting of all sanctions on Syria and together we will help the Syrian people on their path to democracy,” stated Mouaz Moustafa, Executive Director of The Syrian Emergency Task Force.
For years, Caesar’s identity remained a closely guarded secret for his safety and the protection of his mission. Through SETF’s Key Witness Fund, we helped safeguard him as he risked everything to expose Assad’s crimes. Now that he has made the decision to make his identity public, we are honored to share these images, revealing the man whose bravery changed the fight for justice in Syria
For inquiries, please contact:
Maria Cure, Director of Communications
[email protected] www.setf.ngo
About the Syrian Emergency Task Force
The Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF) is a Syrian-American 501(c)(3) headquartered in Washington, D.C. Dedicated to advancing Syria’s future after the fall of the Assad regime, SETF supports a democratic transition, leads humanitarian efforts, and works to secure justice and accountability for war crimes committed by the regime and its allies. Today, SETF stands as the most notable American organization working on Syria, as evidenced by the impact it has made both on the ground in Syria and the U.S. SETF serves as a resource for education by bringing the voices of the Syrian people to the international stage. From testimonies at the UN Security Council to local grassroots community fundraisers, the team brings together like-minded people who are committed to rebuilding a peaceful, democratic Syria after enduring years of brutality under a repressive dictatorship.