Syrian rebels have exposed the horrors within Saidnaya JailIt is often referred to as a ‘human slaughterhouse’. The facility, notorious for its brutal treatment of detainees, housed thousands of men, women and children who suffered under it. Bashar al-Assadrule of As rebel forces took control of Damascus, prison cell doors were left open, with survivors describing atrocities.
Many detainees, including children, were held in cramped, underground cells, enduring years of torture, starvation and neglect. Video captured during the release shows rebels urging the prisoners not to fear, assuring them that Assad’s oppressive regime is over.
As Assad flees, Syria’s rebels enter a gruesome prison
Saidnaya symbolizes the Assad regime’s iron grip on Syria. For years, families were left in the dark about the fate of their loved ones, with many only being informed of their relatives’ deaths long after they happened, Reuters reported. Survivors recount harrowing stories of torture and psychological manipulation, with some forced to harm fellow prisoners under threat of execution.
“There is a three-story underground prison known as the ‘Red Prison,’ which remains open,” local activist Omar Saud said 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 on site.”
- Saidnaya prison, located near Damascus, was a notorious detention center for political prisoners and dissidents.
- Amnesty International described it in 2017 as a “human slaughterhouse”, where mass executions and torture were common practice.
- Between 2011 and 2018, more than 30,000 detainees are said to have died from torture, starvation or execution.
- The crematorium was reportedly built in 2017 to dispose of the bodies of hanged prisoners.
- Prisoners include individuals of all ages, from young children detained with their mothers to elderly detainees held for decades.
As the rebels advanced, Saidnaya became a focal point for liberation efforts. Verified footage shows armed groups breaking down doors and cell doors, allowing inmates to emerge from the darkness. Heartwarming scenes of reunions unfolded as families long separated embraced their loved ones 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. The rebels assured the freed prisoners of safety, stressing the fall of Assad’s regime. In another clip, men carry sacks of goods and chant “God is great!” They were on their way to Damascus.