Syrian rebel forces made a significant breakthrough on Sunday by reaching additional cells in the notorious Saydnaya prison, freeing more prisoners from inhumane conditions. This action came after the rebels seized the capital Damascus and toppled the Assad regime.
In a video streamed online by Al Jazeera news, rebel forces were seen breaking down walls with sledgehammers to access hidden prison cells. The footage captured hundreds of men being released from the extremely overcrowded prison.
One released prisoner, hailing from Aleppo, shared his harrowing experience of being crammed with 25 others in a dormitory. He described the lack of interaction among inmates due to strict regulations enforced by the Syrian regime guards.
The freed detainee recounted incidents of brutality, including being physically assaulted by guards. He also mentioned witnessing the regime forces taking away a group of prisoners, allegedly for execution.
Social media videos circulating on Sunday showed women and even a child being liberated from the prison. Outside the prison walls, heart-wrenching scenes unfolded as people searched for their missing loved ones.
A 2023 report by the United Nations Human Rights Council highlighted the widespread torture and mistreatment in Syrian regime detention facilities. Additionally, a 2017 Amnesty International report revealed shocking details of thousands of executions at Saydnaya Prison as part of a secret crackdown on dissent against the Assad regime.
