In the fall of 2018, top Syrian leaders convened a meeting at Bashar al-Assad's presidential palace to discuss strategies for concealing evidence of mass graves and torture facilities amid mounting leaks, according to two individuals briefed on the meeting. The meeting, attended by heads of Syrian security agencies, focused on methods to better cover their tracks, with one official, Kamal Hassan, who ran an infamous arm of Syria's secret police, proposing the removal of identities of Syrians who died in secret prisons from official records.

The meeting highlights the Assad regime's efforts to manage and suppress information regarding alleged human rights abuses. According to sources, the primary goal was to eliminate any paper trail that could implicate the government in the deaths of prisoners. The strategy involved scrubbing names and personal details from official databases, effectively erasing the existence of these individuals from state records.

The allegations stem from a year-long investigation by reporters who analyzed thousands of pages of documents and interviewed dozens of former Assad-era officials. These sources provided insights into the inner workings of the Syrian government and the measures taken to conceal evidence of atrocities. The investigation also uncovered details about the extensive network of secret prisons and detention centers where thousands of Syrians have allegedly been tortured and killed.

The Syrian government has consistently denied allegations of systematic human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings. Officials have previously dismissed reports of mass graves and torture facilities as propaganda aimed at undermining the legitimacy of the Assad regime. State media outlets have portrayed the government's actions as necessary measures to combat terrorism and maintain stability in the face of internal and external threats.

International human rights organizations have long documented widespread human rights violations in Syria, including arbitrary detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings. These organizations have called for independent investigations into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, urging the international community to hold those responsible accountable. The United Nations has also established mechanisms to collect and preserve evidence of crimes committed in Syria, with the aim of future prosecutions.

The alleged cover-up efforts underscore the challenges in holding the Syrian government accountable for its actions. The destruction of records and the intimidation of potential witnesses complicate efforts to gather evidence and build legal cases. However, international efforts to document and investigate alleged crimes continue, with the hope of eventually bringing those responsible to justice.