The fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria has unveiled the horrifying extent of torture and imprisonment inflicted within its prison system. As rebel forces gain control, they are uncovering grim evidence of the atrocities committed against political dissidents and other detainees.
Rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has pledged to dismantle the remaining security apparatus of the Assad regime and shut down the prisons used to silence opposition. Thousands of Syrians have rushed to these prisons, desperately seeking missing loved ones. While some have been reunited with family and friends, others have been found dead, and many remain unaccounted for.
U.S. prosecutors have identified two Syrian officials allegedly responsible for operating a torture center at the Mezzeh air force base in Damascus. Among the victims were political prisoners, peaceful protesters, and reportedly, a 26-year-old American woman believed to have been executed.
The U.S. indictment names Jamil Hassan, head of the Syrian air force’s intelligence branch, and Abdul Salam Mahmoud, who allegedly oversaw the prison's operations. The indictment alleges Hassan oversaw the prison and torture center at Mezzeh air force base.
Saydnaya Prison, located near Damascus, stands as a chilling symbol of the regime's brutality. Syrians have been desperately searching the prison's complex network of cells, seeking any sign of those who vanished within its walls. While some prisoners were released in the initial days following Assad's fall, the search continues for many others.
Families are clinging to hope as they await news of their missing loved ones. The search for hidden cells and documents continues, aiming to shed light on the fate of the disappeared. The anguish of those searching for answers is palpable, reflecting the widespread impact of the regime's repressive tactics.
It is estimated that since 2011, 150,000 individuals were detained or disappeared in Syria, with tens of thousands believed to have passed through Saydnaya. Amnesty International estimated that between 10,000 and 20,000 people were held at Saydnaya as of 2017, with reports of systematic mass executions.
