Syria has been rocked by the fall of Bashar al-Assad, with bombing raids hitting various sites as rebels swept into Damascus. Among the most notorious symbols of the Assad regime was Sednaya, a prison where around 30,000 people were killed between 2011 and 2020. The Guardian’s William Christou was the first western journalist to gain access to Sednaya and his report sheds light on the cruelty and horrors within.
Upon the rebels reaching Sednaya, prisoners were freed after years of unimaginable torture and suffering. The prison, located 20km north of Damascus, was a place designed to dehumanize and break its inmates. Stories and reports of the atrocities that took place at Sednaya have emerged, shining a light on the industrialized process of dehumanization and killing at the hands of the Assad regime.
Claims of an underground “red wing” housing additional prisoners fueled uncertainty and fear among families searching for their missing loved ones. The White Helmets, Syrian Civil Defense force, searched for supposed secret compartments, while families frantically sought answers about their missing relatives.
As Syrians celebrate the fall of Assad, the dark legacy of Sednaya and the uncertainty surrounding missing loved ones serve as a reminder of the atrocities committed by the regime. Efforts to uncover the truth and provide closure to families continue as Syria navigates the aftermath of Assad’s regime.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
