“Syria’s Stolen Children” Wins Sigma Award for Data Journalism
Under the rule of Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s security services abducted hundreds of children of imprisoned regime opponents and placed them in orphanages in order to coerce their families into cooperating with the Assad regime. The international investigative project Syria’s Stolen Children documents one of the most disturbing chapters of human rights abuses in Syria. Over a period of nine months, Syrian and international journalists from six newsrooms analyzed thousands of leaked documents. The investigation confirmed more than 300 cases of abducted children, while at least 3,700 children remain missing to this day.
Among the investigation’s most significant findings is evidence suggesting that SOS Children’s Villages International was aware of the situation for years. The organization’s Syrian branch was headed by the daughter of a close Assad associate. Many affected families are still searching for their disappeared children, and Syria’s transitional government has yet to provide a comprehensive accounting of the documented cases or ensure accountability. For its outstanding work, Syria’s Stolen Children received the Sigma Award for Data Journalism. Presented by the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN), the prestigious award recognizes innovative and impactful data-driven investigations from around the world. The journalists involved in the project included Syrian investigative reporter Mais Katt.
About Mais Katt: Mais Katt is an award-winning Syrian investigative journalist whose reporting on corruption, abuse of power, and human rights violations in Syria has gained international recognition. As a leading voice in investigative journalism in the Middle East, she has dedicated her career to uncovering hidden truths and holding powerful actors accountable. Over the years, Mais Katt has collaborated with internationally renowned media outlets and investigative organizations, including Lighthouse Reports, The Guardian, Der Spiegel, the BBC, and ARIJ. Her work focuses on human rights, accountability, transparency, and the role of independent journalism in conflict-affected societies. In addition to her reporting, Mais Katt has trained hundreds of journalists across Syria, Yemen, Sudan, and Libya. Through partnerships with organizations such as Internews, CFI, and DW Akademie, she has helped strengthen investigative reporting, press freedom, and independent media throughout the region. Mais Katt is also the founder of Radio Rozana, a Syrian exile media organization, and the Arab Women Investigative Journalists Network, both of which support independent journalism and amplify underrepresented voices in the Arab world. Today, she lives between Damascus and the Netherlands. As a trainer and Arabic editor for the Her Turn Syria project of the taz Panter Foundation, she supports Syrian women journalists and helps strengthen their role in independent media. For Mais Katt, journalism is more than storytelling—it is a tool for transparency, accountability, and social change.
Watch the full investigation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LymByDEqWkM&t=17s
You can find more stories and updates from the taz Panter Foundation’s Syria project here.