Syrian rebels have unveiled the horrors within Saydnaya Prison, often referred to as a ‘human slaughterhouse.’ The facility, infamous for its brutal treatment of detainees, held thousands of men, women, and children who suffered under Bashar al-Assad’s regime. As rebel forces captured Damascus, doors to the prison’s cells were flung open, with survivors recounting the atrocities.
Many detainees, including children, had been held in cramped, underground cells, enduring years of torture, starvation, and neglect. Videos captured during the liberation show rebels urging the prisoners not to fear, assuring them that Assad’s oppressive rule had ended.
Syria’s rebels enter horrifying prison as Assad flees
Saydnaya symbolised the Assad regime’s iron grip over Syria. For years, families were left in the dark about the fate of their loved ones, with many informed only of their relatives’ deaths long after they occurred, Reuters reported. Survivors recount harrowing tales of torture and psychological manipulation, with some forced to harm fellow inmates under threat of execution.
“Three floors underground lies a prison known as the ‘Red Prison,’ which remains unopened,” according to local activist Omar Saoud in a video shared with the Daily Mail. “Access to the facility is still restricted due to its complex locking system, and the personnel who once operated it are no longer at the site.”
- Saydnaya Prison, located near Damascus, was a notorious detention centre for political prisoners and dissidents.
- Amnesty International described it in 2017 as a “human slaughterhouse,” where mass executions and torture were common practices.
- Between 2011 and 2018, over 30,000 detainees reportedly died due to torture, starvation, or execution.
- A crematorium was allegedly constructed in 2017 to dispose of the bodies of hanged inmates.
- Prisoners included individuals of all ages, from toddlers detained with their mothers to elderly detainees held for decades.
As rebels advanced, Saydnaya became a focal point for liberation efforts. Verified footage shows armed groups breaking through gates and cell doors, allowing prisoners to emerge from darkness. Heart-wrenching scenes of reunions unfolded as families, long separated, embraced their loved ones, some for the first time in decades.
A particularly moving video shows a toddler wandering out of a cell, confused yet hopeful, as women around him cry tears of relief. Rebels assured the freed prisoners of safety, emphasising the fall of Assad’s regime. In another clip, men carried sacks of belongings and chanted, “God is great!” as they walked towards Damascus.
#Syrias #human #slaughterhouse #Rebels #detail #atrocities #infamous #Saydnaya #prison #Times #India
