Syrian rebel forces made significant progress in their fight against the Assad regime. On Sunday, they reached additional cells in the infamous Saydnaya Prison near Damascus. They freed hundreds of detainees held under brutal conditions.
Rebels Discover Hidden Cells
Rebels streamed videos online showing their efforts to liberate the prisoners. In one Al Jazeera video, fighters used sledgehammers to break down walls. The footage revealed hidden prison cells. Overcrowded spaces held hundreds of detainees in dire conditions.
“We are kept in dormitories with 25 people crammed together,” one freed prisoner told a rebel fighter in the video. He explained how prisoners were forced to sit with their heads down, rarely speaking to one another.
Freed Detainee Shares Horrors
One prisoner, originally from Aleppo, described years of torment. Imprisoned since 2019 for evading military service, he endured constant abuse. “A guard once hit me on the head with a hammer,” he recalled. He accused the Syrian regime of extreme brutality.
He shared harrowing details of recent events. “Two days ago, at 4 a.m., they took 60 people from our block. They claimed three of them were going for execution,” he said.
Women and Children Among the Freed
Videos on social media showed women and at least one child emerging from the prison. Families gathered outside the prison walls, desperate to locate their loved ones.
Rebels vowed to continue their search for hidden cells. They promised to uncover the full scale of atrocities committed at Saydnaya Prison.
Global Condemnation of Saydnaya’s Brutality
Saydnaya Prison, located near Damascus, is notorious for its inhumane conditions. A 2023 United Nations Human Rights Council report documented patterns of torture, abuse, and degrading treatment under the Assad regime.
Amnesty International previously described Saydnaya as a “slaughterhouse.” Their 2017 report revealed that 13,000 prisoners were hanged between 2011 and 2015. Most were arrested for opposing the regime.
The Fall of Assad’s Regime
Rebel forces recently toppled the Assad government after seizing Damascus. The capture of Saydnaya Prison highlights the extent of the regime’s crimes. Syrian citizens now hope for accountability and justice.
The international community is closely monitoring the developments. Advocates for human rights demand investigations into the regime’s abuses.
Families Hope for Answers
Outside Saydnaya Prison, crowds searched for missing family members. Many held photos of their loved ones, hoping for news. Rebel leaders pledged to assist in identifying and reuniting freed detainees with their families.
The fall of the Assad regime marks a turning point in Syria’s conflict. The liberation of Saydnaya prisoners offers a glimpse of hope for a nation scarred by years of war and oppression.
