Lina Sinjab

Massgraves are regularly being discovered. In one week, four were discovered in this neighborhood in Damascus. The White Helmet Civil Defense say there were remains of children among the bodies. In vielen places like this one, the bodies are burned to cover the evidence.

Parents who are hoping to find their missing children, for them the greatest fear is that they might be in the bones found here. The basement's owner, Ahmed Laham Sayed, says for years he knew there were bodies below and couldn't talk. He told me he had nightmares hearing the cries of women and children.

Parents who are hoping to find their missing children, for them the greatest fear is that they might be in the bones found here. The basement's owner, Ahmed Laham Sayed, says for years he knew there were bodies below and couldn't talk. He told me he had nightmares hearing the cries of women and children.

Das ist Lahn al-Hayat Orphanage, wo Mr. Moussa und seine Frau Ghazia Tränen ihrer Großmütter gefunden haben. Wir wurden gesagt, dass das ein Ort ist, das viele Kinder von den Sicherheitskräften des Assad-Regimes bekommen hat, ohne eine richtige Dokumentation. Mr. Mu'tasim Saloumi ist der neue Direktor. Ich habe ihn gefragt, ob er etwas über den Fall des Schamanen-Islam weiß.

Das ist Lahn al-Hayat Orphanage, wo Mr. Moussa und seine Frau Ghazia Tränen ihrer Großmütter gefunden haben. Wir wurden gesagt, dass das ein Ort ist, das viele Kinder von den Sicherheitskräften des Assad-Regimes bekommen hat, ohne eine richtige Dokumentation. Mr. Mu'tasim Saloumi ist der neue Direktor. Ich habe ihn gefragt, ob er etwas über den Fall des Schamanen-Islam weiß.

For Atiyah and Ghaziyah, this might not be comforting. But for some of the children here, there is now a better chance of being found.

For Atiyah and Ghaziyah, this might not be comforting. But for some of the children here, there is now a better chance of being found.

Russia's deputy foreign minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, along with President Putin's special advisor on Syria, are in Damascus. There's been no direct confirmation from the Syrian authorities on who they are meeting. Relations between the two sides are tense. Many Syrians want Bashar al-Assad, who's been given asylum in Russia, to be prosecuted.

Russia's deputy foreign minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, along with President Putin's special advisor on Syria, are in Damascus. There's been no direct confirmation from the Syrian authorities on who they are meeting. Relations between the two sides are tense. Many Syrians want Bashar al-Assad, who's been given asylum in Russia, to be prosecuted.

It's hard to tell whether the Syrian government will raise this issue or discuss the money the ousted leader fled with, leaving the country in poverty. The Russians will probably focus on their naval presence on Syria's coast, as reports suggest Moscow's military equipment has been removed from the port of Tartus.

It's hard to tell whether the Syrian government will raise this issue or discuss the money the ousted leader fled with, leaving the country in poverty. The Russians will probably focus on their naval presence on Syria's coast, as reports suggest Moscow's military equipment has been removed from the port of Tartus.

We are at Umayyad Square and this is the first day where civil society have gathered. It is the civil youth gathering. It's full of artists, painters, musicians and ordinary peoples. And the calls are mainly for a civil democratic state to participate in the formation of the constitution. They're welcoming the new government, but they're also saying we are here together.

We are at Umayyad Square and this is the first day where civil society have gathered. It is the civil youth gathering. It's full of artists, painters, musicians and ordinary peoples. And the calls are mainly for a civil democratic state to participate in the formation of the constitution. They're welcoming the new government, but they're also saying we are here together.

The Umayyad Square has become a place of exchanging views among different people. Something like the Hyde Park Speaker's Corner that never happened under Assad's power. Men and women are arguing about the country's priorities. The men think it is not time to talk about women's rights. The women insist now is the time for every right to be discussed.

The Umayyad Square has become a place of exchanging views among different people. Something like the Hyde Park Speaker's Corner that never happened under Assad's power. Men and women are arguing about the country's priorities. The men think it is not time to talk about women's rights. The women insist now is the time for every right to be discussed.

Savannah Bakli is a musician and civil society activist.

Savannah Bakli is a musician and civil society activist.

People here want to be proactive and be part of any political process and want to make sure that they are included, especially women. They don't want to be deprived of their rights. They want to be assertive that they are here and part of the future Syria. Away from the bustling square, I visit 73-year-old Yousef Abdelki, who is a renowned Syrian artist.

People here want to be proactive and be part of any political process and want to make sure that they are included, especially women. They don't want to be deprived of their rights. They want to be assertive that they are here and part of the future Syria. Away from the bustling square, I visit 73-year-old Yousef Abdelki, who is a renowned Syrian artist.

His studio is tucked off the main street, a traditional Damascene house with a water fountain centered in its courtyard. Once a prisoner of Assad's the father, he was also detained during Bashar's brutal crackdown in 2011. His work reflected the bleak reality of Syria under the regime, and a painting could get him thrown in jail, or worse, executed.