Fighters from the anti-government forces occupied Damascus, ending the rule of Bashar al-Assad, while during their offensive they managed to enter the prisons of the regime. One of them is the notorious Saydnaya prison, one of the most notorious places for torture and executions under Bashar al-Assad's regime.
This prison, which has been dubbed the "Center of Human Massacre", has been used to hold and torture political opponents of the regime, with unspecified figures suggesting that up to 13,000 people may have been executed there between 2011 and 2016, writes A2.
The rebels, as they advanced towards the capital, released prisoners from several prisons, including Saydnaya. They opened the cell doors and destroyed the walls, freeing hundreds of prisoners, including women and children. Footage of the rescue has shown strong emotions, with many breaking down in tears of joy and panic as they fear the possibility of reprisals from the regime.
The prison system in Syria, including Saydnaya, has been known for constant torture, executions and appalling conditions. Amnesty International has documented that hundreds of prisoners are executed every week and many disappear without a trace. The underground cells, where many prisoners are said to still be trapped, have created an emergency situation as help for them is delayed.
As efforts to free the prisoners continue, many families waited outside the prisons in the hope of meeting their loved ones who have been missing for years.
(A2 Televizion)
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