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ProSieben Airs Thilo Mischke Documentary on Syria Torture With On-Site Findings

The 125-minute report pairs survivor testimony with footage from emptied detention sites to push efforts to identify alleged perpetrators.

Overview

  • ProSieben broadcast “Uncovered – Spurlos verschwunden: Der Deutsche aus dem Folterknast” on November 10, presenting Thilo Mischke’s latest investigation.
  • The film follows German survivor Martin Lautwein, detained in Damascus in 2018 for about 47–48 days, who recounts waterboarding, electric shocks, beatings and two thwarted suicide attempts.
  • After the fall of the Assad regime, Mischke and Lautwein reentered former regime facilities, including the Palestine Branch, documenting cells, remnants and signs of systematically destroyed records.
  • The team reports finding a list naming officers from the prison, which survivors hope will aid identification efforts as formal accountability remains unresolved.
  • Syrian survivor Karim describes years of abuse across multiple prisons, including more than three years in Sednaya, underscoring the film’s focus on trauma, public memory and the obstacles to justice.