Sednaya prison: Testimonies of horror from Syria’s “Human Slaughterhouse”
Sednaya Prison, infamously known as Syria’s “human slaughterhouse,” stands as a grim symbol of the systemic brutality under the Assad regime.
Testimonies from former detainees recount harrowing experiences of torture, inhumane conditions, and widespread atrocities within its walls.
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Nazi Methods in Syrian Prisons
A report by Amnesty International revealed that the roots of Syria's security apparatus trace back to Hafez al-Assad, father of Bashar al-Assad. During his rule, Hafez enlisted Alois Brunner, a former Nazi officer, to design an intelligence apparatus that employed Gestapo-inspired torture methods.
Brunner, who fled post-World War II Germany and assumed the alias "George Fischer," introduced these notorious techniques, which were widely used in Syrian prisons like Sednaya, Palmyra, and Adra.
The Gestapo (short for Geheime Staatspolizei, or Secret State Police) was Nazi Germany's most feared and secretive intelligence agency. Established in 1933, it was instrumental in suppressing dissent, orchestrating mass arrests, and carrying out systematic exterminations. Brunner, as a key figure in the Gestapo, brought this legacy of cruelty to Syria, embedding its methods into the country’s detention system.
Survivor Testimonies of Atrocities
Survivors recounted unspeakable violence, including brutal "welcome parties" for new detainees. Amnesty researcher Nicolette Boehland shared a survivor’s account of arriving at Sednaya:
“One man said that upon arrival with 60 others, the beatings were so severe that 20 detainees were dead before reaching their cells.”
Salt Chambers: A Macabre Reality
Association of Detainees and the Missing of Sednaya Prison (ADMSP) uncovered the existence of “salt chambers” within the prison. These chambers, layered with salt, were used to preserve the bodies of those who succumbed to torture.
Former detainees described horrifying experiences within these chambers. Abdo, one survivor, recounted:
“I thought it was just salt beneath my feet until I stumbled upon a corpse. I realized I was surrounded by emaciated, mummified bodies.”
Another detainee, Moatassem Abdel Sater, described his release day in 2014, where he was taken to a chamber filled with mummified corpses. He speculated the intent was psychological terror, saying, “They looked like me—skeletal and broken.”
Systematic Torture and Dehumanization
Omar Alshogre, another survivor, provided chilling details of the systemic torture, including electrocution, mutilation, and being forced to harm fellow detainees. “The worst was being made to turn on each other when we had no ‘information’ to give,” he recalled.
A Legacy of Horror
Sednaya prison remains a haunting emblem of the human rights abuses that have plagued Syria. As survivor accounts continue to emerge, they underscore the need for accountability and justice for the thousands who suffered within its walls.
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