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. He oversees the team’s administration and financial operations, and facilitates cooperation between the team, donors, and supporters.

  • Yasser Al-Khamis

    Field Team Lead

    Yasser is the Team Leader for the Syrian Missing Persons and Forensic Team (SMFT). He oversees all field operations and serves as the organization’s spokesperson.

  • Turki Al-Ali

    Team Coordinator

    Turki is the Team Coordinator  of the SMFT. He manages the team’s relationships with local authorities and civil society to facilitate the team’s field operations.

  • Ibrahim Al-Mayel

    External Communications Team

    Ibrahim is a member of the SMFT’s external communications team. He works to raise awareness of the SMFT’s work and expand its outreach to families of missing persons.

  • Mohammad Al-Muttard

    External Communications Team

    Mohammad is a member of the SMFT’s external communications team. He works to raise awareness of the SMFT’s work and expand its outreach to families of missing persons.

  • Juma Mohammad

    External Communications Team

    Juma is a member of the SMFT’s external communications team. He works to raise awareness of the SMFT’s work and expand its outreach to families of missing persons.

  • Huwaidi Al-Manoukh

    External Communications Team

    Huwaidi is a member of the SMFT’s external communications team. He works to raise awareness of the SMFT’s work and expand its outreach to families of missing persons.

  • Abdullah Al-Askar

    Abdallah Al-Askar

    Abdallah is the SMFT’s Financial Director. He manages all financial operations under the supervision of the Managing Director.

  • Mahmoud Al-Jasim

    External Communications Coordinator and Data Entry Operator

    Mahmoud oversees external communications and maintains the team’s physical and digital records.

  • Mohammed Sayyid

    Media and Advocacy Officer

    Mohammad oversees the SMFT’s media, outreach, and advocacy efforts.

  • Abdul Qader Al-Khalil

    Supplies Administrator

    Abdul Qader is the SMFT’s Supplies Administrator. He manages the storage and maintenance of the team’s daily and laboratory equipment.

  • Ahmed Al-Hamoud

    Contextual Investigations

    Ahmad is a member of the SMFT’s Contextual Investigations Team. He collaborates with the team to collect and analyze documentation to narrow the search for missing persons.

  • Helal Dhaher

    Contextual Investigations

    Helal is a member of the SMFT’s Contextual Investigations Team. He collaborates with the team to collect and analyze documentation to narrow the search for missing persons.

  • Ahmad Habash

    Contextual Investigations

    Ahmad is a member of the SMFT’s Contextual Investigations Team. He collaborates with the team to collect and analyze documentation to narrow the search for missing persons.

  • Khaleel Al-Ahmad

    Contextual Investigations

    Khaleel is a member of the SMFT’s Contextual Investigations Team. He collaborates with the team to collect and analyze documentation to narrow the search for missing persons.

  • Naser Al-Khalaf

    Contextual Investigations

    Naser is a member of the SMFT’s Contextual Investigations Team in Deir Ez-Zor. He collaborates with the team to collect and analyze documentation to narrow the search for missing persons.

  • Hamid Al-Hefl

    Contextual Investigations

    Hamid is a member of the SMFT’s Contextual Investigations Team in Deir Ez-Zor. He collaborates with the team to collect and analyze documentation to narrow the search for missing persons.

  • Asaad Al-Mashouj

    Identification Team

    Asaad is a member of the SMFT’s Identification Team. He manages laboratory operations and provides support to the field exhumation team.

  • Ahmad Faseeh

    Identification Team

    Ahmad is a member of the SMFT’s Identification Team. He oversees the field operations of the exhumation team and provides support to the Identification Team in the laboratory.

  • Ahmad Joudiyah

    Identification Team

    Ahmad is a member of the SMFT’s Identification Team. He assists in managing the field operations of the Exhumation Team.

  • Abdul Salam Aowais

    Identification Team

    Abdul Salam is a member of the SMFT’s Identification Team. He assists with field operations of the exhumation Team, and           coordinates external data operations with the Database Team.

  • Hassan Al-Rahal

    Identification Team

    Hassan is a member of the SMFT’s Identification Team where he provides initial laboratory analysis.

  • Mohammad Al-Faihan

    Sifting and Exhumation Team

    Mohammad is a member of the SMFT’s sifting and exhumation team. He works as a forensic planning, measurement and drawing specialist, and also supports the identification team in initial analysis operations within the laboratory.

  • Mohammad Al-Ahmad

    Sifting and Exhumation Team

    Mohammad is a member of the SMFT’s sifting and exhumation team. He works as a forensic planning, measurement and drawing specialist, and also supports the identification team in initial analysis operations within the laboratory.

  • Hassan Al-Masloukh

    Sifting and Exhumation Team

    Hassan is a member of the SMFT’s sifting and exhumation team. He works as a forensic imagery specialist who photographs field and laboratory operations, and supports advocacy efforts.

  • Mahmoud Al-Faraj

    Sifting and Exhumation Team

    Mahmoud is a member of the SMFT’s sifting and exhumation team. His primary focus is preserving evidence and field samples, as well as managing the transportation and handling of evidence to maintain chain of custody.

  • Basil Al-Atar

    Sifting and Exhumation Team

    Basil is a member of the SMFT’s Sifting and Exhumation Team. Hamdo 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.

  • Musa Al-Marai

    Sifting and Exhumation Team

    Musa is a member of the filtration and extraction team of the Syrian Missing Persons and Forensic Affairs Team, and works primarily on handling soil, preserving evidence, belongings, and samples during field operations.

  • Ibrahim 'izzo

    Sifting and Exhumation Team

    Ibrahim is a member of the filtration and extraction team of the Syrian Missing Persons and Forensic Affairs Team, and works primarily on handling soil, preserving evidence, belongings, and samples during field operations.