Rescue workers from the White Helmets have officially concluded their search for potential detainees within the infamous Saydnaya military prison in Syria, reporting no discoveries of previously undisclosed cells or areas. The search operation, conducted by specialized teams bolstered by K9 units and individuals familiar with the prison's layout, took place amid public gatherings where families expressed hope of locating missing relatives.
In their statement, the White Helmets confirmed, "The search did not uncover any unopened or hidden areas within the facility." This news coincides with alarming reports from rebel fighters who have discovered nearly 40 corpses in a mortuary in Damascus, displaying clear signs of torture.
Amid these events, the leader of an Islamist militant group, significant in the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad, announced accountability measures for senior officials linked to the torture of political prisoners throughout the ongoing civil war. Abu Mohammed al-Jolani confirmed that the names of those responsible will be released, and rewards will be offered for information on their current locations.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group based in the UK, reported that approximately 60,000 individuals have perished due to torture and overcrowding in Assad's prisons. Human rights organizations estimate that over 100,000 people have disappeared following Assad's severe crackdown on pro-democracy protests initiated in 2011, a pivotal moment that catalyzed the civil war.
In a 2022 report, the Turkey-based Association of Detainees and the Missing in Sednaya Prison (ADMSP) labeled Saydnaya a "death camp," estimating that over 30,000 detainees perished from execution, torture, or starvation between 2011 and 2018. Testimonies from former inmates revealed that at least another 500 losses occurred between 2018 and 2021. Additionally, the ADMSP indicated that "salt chambers" were used as rudimentary mortuaries for the deceased prior to their transport to Tishreen Military Hospital for burial, with families never informed of their loved ones' fates.
Amnesty International has characterized Saydnaya with the moniker "human slaughterhouse," alleging that sanctioned executions constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Assad government has categorically dismissed these claims, calling them "baseless" and asserting that all executions align with due process in Syria.
