Who we are

The Syrian Missing Persons and Forensic Team (SMFT) is an independent, nonprofit, humanitarian organization focused on discovering the fates of missing persons who were disappeared in Northeast Syria during the period of ISIS control. The team collaborates with families, collects information on missing persons, conducts contextual investigations of detention centers and grave sites, and preserves mass graves. In the future, the team plans to utilize information collected in investigations, and its growing forensic skills, to exhume mass graves in Northeast Syria, identify victims, and, when possible, return them to their loved ones.

The SMFT grew out of the forensic branch of the Raqqa First Response Team, which started as a voluntary initiative at the beginning of 2018. In the aftermath of the Coalition bombings of Raqqa and Deir Ezzor, the team removed rubble and cement from buildings in danger of collapse, extinguished fires, provided first aid, and conducting forensic services such as recovering bodies from the streets and under rubble, and exhuming mass graves. This work focused on addressing the immediate needs of the residents in the aftermath of airstrikes. Unfortunately, early exhumation efforts did not have the resources to properly identify victims; the SMFT was created in 2021 to address this gap.

Vision

A Syria without missing persons.

Mission

Revealing the identity and fate of those who went missing in Northeast Syria during the period of ISIS control.

Values

Independence: We are an independent team, administratively and financially, and separate from any political or governmental entity.

Neutrality: We operate in a neutral manner, and search for all missing persons, regardless of ethnic background or political affiliation.

Responsibility: We are aware of the devastating impact a missing loved one has on family members, and our ultimate responsibility is to those families.

Excellence: Through continual professional trainings and partnerships with global experts, we seek to employ international best practice in the search for missing persons.  

Confidentiality: We respect the privacy of the families, witnesses, and survivors we work with, and ensure the confidentiality of information we collect.

Our Team

  • Ibrahim Al-Hassan

    Managing Director

    Ibrahim is the Managing Director of the Syrian Missing Persons and Forensic Team (SMFT). He supervises the team’s administrative and financial operations, and leads cooperation between the team, local authorities, external partners, and civil society actors.

  • Yasser Al-Khamis

    Field Team Lead

    Yasser is the Team Lead for the SMFT. He supervises the SMFT’s field operations and acts as the organization’s spokesperson.

  • Thani Al-Sharida

    Forensic Doctor

    Dr. Thani is a Forensic Doctor for the SMFT ; he oversees exhumation operations and conducts initial forensic analysis of remains. Dr. Thani also works in the SMFT’s laboratory where he builds forensic profiles and extracts biological samples.

  • Yehya Al-Mushrif

    Forensic Doctor

    Dr. Yehya is a Forensic Doctor for the SMFT and is responsible for overseeing exhumation operations and conducting initial forensic analysis of remains. Dr. Yehya also works in the SMFT’s laboratory where he builds forensic profiles and extracts biological samples.

  • Abdullah Al-Askr

    Financial Director

    Abdullah is the financial director for the SMFT and works with the Managing Director to coordinate the team’s financial operations.

  • Ahmad Al-Akouosh

    Director of Procurement

    Ahmed is the Director of Procurement for the SMFT. He works in coordination with the Financial Director, Team Leader, and Managing Director to identify the team’s logistical and technical needs.

  • Abdul Qader Al-Khalil

    Supplies Administrator

    Abdul Qader is the Supplies Administrator for the SMFT. He ensures the team has sufficient equipment to conduct daily operations and laboratory analysis.

  • Riad Al-Omar

    Database Manager

    Riyad is the database manager for the SMFT. Riyad manages data submitted by the SMFT’s field teams and uploads it to the Team’s database.

  • Mahmoud Al-Jasim

    External Communications Coordinator

    Mahmoud is the External Communications Coordinator for the SMFT‘s database team. He coordinates the team’s external communications and organizes training opportunities for the SMFT.

  • Mohammad Al-Muttard

    External Communications

    Mohammad is a member of the SMFT’s communication team. He works to raise awareness of the SMFT’s work, focusing on local communities and families of missing persons.

  • Huwaidi Al-Manoukh

    External Communications

    Huwaidi is a member of the SMFT’s communication team. He works to raise awareness of the SMFT’s work, focusing on local communities and families of missing persons.

  • Juma Mohammad

    External Communications

    Juma is a member of the SMFT’s communication team where he works to raise awareness of the SMFTs work with local communities and families of missing persons.

  • Ibrahim Al-Mayel

    External Communications

    Ibrahim is a member of the SMFT’s communication team. He works to raise awareness of the SMFT’s work, focusing on local communities and families of missing persons.

  • Turki Al-Ali

    Media Team

    Turki is a member of the SMFT’s Media Team. Turki produces informative content about SMFT in order to promote SMFT’s work and mobilize community support.

  • Issa Al-Khalil

    Media Team

    Issa is a member of the SMFT’s Media Team. Issa produces informative content about SMFT in order to promote SMFT’s work and mobilize community support.

  • Mohammed Sayyid

    Media Team

    Mohammed is a member of the SMFT’s Media Team. Mohammad produces informative content about SMFT in order to promote SMFT’s work and mobilize community support.

  • Ahmed Al-Hamoud

    Contextual Investigations

    Ahmed is a member of the SMFT’s Contextual Investigations Team. He works with the team to collect and analyze data from across the SMFT and narrow the search for missing persons.

  • Asaad Al-Mashouj

    Identification Team

    Asaad is a member of SMFT’s Identification Team and works as a forensic assistant for field and laboratory operations.

  • Hassan Al-Rahal

    Identification Team

    Hassan is a member of SMFT’s Identification Team and works as a forensic assistant for field and laboratory operations.

  • Ahmed Joudiyah

    Identification Team

    Ahmed is a member of the Syrian Missing Persons and Forensic Team’s Identification Team and supervises the SMFT’s exhumation operations.

  • Musa Al-Marai

    Sifting and Exhumation Team

    Musa is a member of the SMFT’s Sifting and Exhumation Team. Musa collects and preserves evidence, personal belongings, and samples during field operations.

  • Hamdo Al-Hamdo

    Sifting and Exhumation Team

    Hamdo is a member of the SMFT’s Sifting and Exhumation Team. Hamdo collects and preserves evidence, personal belongings, and samples during field operations.

  • Mohammad Al-Faihan

    Sifting and Exhumation Team

    Mohammad is a member of the Syrian Missing Persons and Forensic Team’s Sifting and Exhumation Team. Mohammad conducts field surveys and forensic drawing.

  • Mohammad Al-Faraj

    Sifting and Exhumation Team

    Mohammad is a member of the SMFT’s Sifting and Exhumation Team. Mohammad collects and preserves evidence, personal belongings, and samples during field operations.

  • Basil Al-Atar

    Sifting and Exhumation Team

    Basil is a member of the SMFT’s Sifting and Exhumation Team. Basil collects and preserves evidence, personal belongings, and samples during field operations.

  • Hassan Al-Masloukh

    Sifting and Exhumation Team

    Hassan is a member of the SMFT’s Sifting and Exhumation Team. He is a forensic imaging specialist who documents field exhumations and laboratory analysis.