Reports from Syrian authorities or international forensic teams

Syrian Families Find Mazen al-Hamada's Body in Notorious Saydnaya Prison

Dec 11, 2024, 09:54 AM

In the aftermath of the Assad regime's fall, Syrian families are desperately searching for relatives who disappeared into the notorious Saydnaya Prison, known as a 'human slaughterhouse' for its history of torture and inhumane conditions. The prison, which has been a symbol of the regime's brutality since the 1980s, was raided by opposition forces after they took control of Damascus. The body of prominent Syrian activist Mazen al-Hamada was among those discovered in the facility. Reports indicate that over 3,085 Palestinians, including 127 women, were detained in Syrian regime prisons since 2011, with 643 reportedly dying under torture, including 37 women. Additionally, 135 were executed in field trials, and 252 children lost their lives due to war-related events. The search for survivors in the prison's underground cells has been futile, with neither cells nor detainees found. The Assad regime's torture practices have left many bodies emaciated, with signs of severe abuse. The Syrian authorities have arrested guards from Saydnaya Prison, signaling a potential shift in accountability for the atrocities committed there.