Former Detainee Reveals Horrors of Syrian Prisons
Lebanese Moaz Marab, who spent 18 years in Syrian prisons, has shared harrowing accounts of torture and inhumane conditions that detainees faced under the regime of Bashar al-Assad. After his release following the fall of Assad's regime, Marab returned to Lebanon, where he recounted the brutal realities of life in prisons such as Sednaya, often referred to as a 'human slaughterhouse'.
Marab detailed the severe torture methods employed, including beatings with a coiled electric cable and being subjected to the 'al-Dulab' method, where detainees were beaten while trapped in a tire. He emphasized that the torture was so extreme that many prisoners would accept any charges against them just to end their suffering.
Conditions in Sednaya Prison
During his five years in Sednaya prison, Marab witnessed daily deaths and extreme violence, including instances where a prison sergeant would kill fellow inmates to steal their food rations. He described the prison conditions as dire, with around 60 detainees crammed into a small room and food rations limited to minimal bread and bulgur. Marab's accounts highlight the systematic abuse and dehumanization that occurred within the prison walls, where detainees were coerced into signing confessions without understanding their content.
Ongoing Impact of Syrian Regime's Actions
The release of Marab and other detainees comes in the wake of the Syrian opposition's control over Damascus, marking a significant shift in the political landscape of Syria. The Lebanese Interior Minister announced the return of nine citizens who had been imprisoned in Syria, shedding light on the historical context of Lebanese detainees under the Assad regime. While some have been released, organizations estimate that hundreds of Lebanese remain unaccounted for in Syrian prisons, raising concerns about ongoing human rights violations and the legacy of enforced disappearances during the Syrian regime's rule.
