The ousting of Bashar al-Assad’s regime has sparked mixed emotions across Syria, with celebrations erupting alongside chilling discoveries about the darkest chapters of the Assad era. Saydnaya Prison, once synonymous with torture and repression, has come into focus as survivors and activists share their accounts of the horrors that unfolded within its walls.
Saydnaya: A “Human Slaughterhouse”
Saydnaya Prison, located near Damascus, became notorious for systemic abuses under Assad’s government. Reports from survivors and organizations paint a grim picture of the facility, which Amnesty International described in 2017 as a “human slaughterhouse”. The report claimed that mass executions and severe torture occurred regularly, with deaths sanctioned at the highest levels of government.
According to the Association of Detainees and The Missing in Saydnaya Prison (ADMSP), the facility turned into a “death camp” after Syria’s civil war began in 2011. Between 2011 and 2018 alone, an estimated 30,000 detainees perished due to execution, starvation, and lack of medical care. Between 2018 and 2021, at least 500 more prisoners were reportedly executed.
Families Search for Loved Ones Amid Revelations
With the regime’s collapse, harrowing footage has emerged showing efforts to access hidden underground cells in Saydnaya. Videos shared online, including those verified by AFP, depict Syrians breaking through walls to reveal dark chambers where detainees were held in inhumane conditions.
One particularly emotional video shows the release of a small child alongside his mother, with a reassuring voice saying, “He [Assad] has fallen. Don’t be scared.” Syrians rushed to the notorious prison, desperate to learn if their missing relatives were among those finally freed.
A New Dawn for Syria
Amid the revelations, celebrations have swept across Syria. Abdulkafi Alhamdo, a prominent activist speaking from Aleppo, described the relief and joy of seeing the regime fall. “This is one of the few days I don’t have nightmares,” he said, reflecting on the newfound calm in his city.
Alhamdo believes this marks a turning point for Syria, saying, “Syria is turning from darkness into light.” Aleppo, which was once a flashpoint in the civil war, is now described as peaceful and organized—a hopeful symbol of what the rest of the country could become.
However, questions remain about Syria’s future leadership. While the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) played a role in ending Assad’s rule, Alhamdo insists that Syrians will reject any form of totalitarian governance going forward. “We will no longer accept any kind of ruling regime like that,” he stated, emphasizing the desire for a free and democratic future.
The Road Ahead
The fall of Assad’s regime is both a cause for celebration and a stark reminder of the atrocities inflicted upon the Syrian people. As the country begins to rebuild, the survivors of Saydnaya Prison—and the memories of those who perished—serve as a testament to the resilience of a nation emerging from decades of darkness.
