Former Detainee Reveals Horrors of Solitary Confinement in Sednaya Prison
A former detainee from Sednaya prison has shared harrowing accounts of the inhumane conditions faced by prisoners in solitary confinement. Speaking to Al Jazeera, the ex-detainee, who spent four years in the notorious facility, described the punitive measures taken by the prison administration, which often resulted in prisoners being moved to solitary confinement for minor infractions, such as requesting basic necessities like water or food.
The former fighter in the Syrian armed opposition recounted the brutal treatment meted out to prisoners, including beatings and forced isolation. He explained that solitary confinement could last up to 50 days, during which inmates were subjected to severe physical abuse and deprived of adequate food. In one chilling account, he mentioned that prisoners were forced to share their meager rations with rodents to prevent them from coming too close.
Conditions in Sednaya Prison
The conditions in Sednaya prison are described as deplorable, with the solitary confinement rooms being unfit for human habitation. Al Jazeera's coverage included footage of these rooms, highlighting the foul odors and humidity that characterize the environment. The prison, located near the Saidnaya Monastery, is infamous for its brutal treatment of detainees and has been referred to as a 'human slaughterhouse.'
On December 8, 2024, Syrian opposition forces reportedly stormed the prison, liberating detained men, women, and children following the toppling of the regime of ousted President Bashar al-Assad. Sednaya prison, built in 1987, is divided into two sections: the 'Red Building' for political and civilian detainees and the 'White Building' for military prisoners. It has gained notoriety for the torture and overcrowding that has occurred within its walls, particularly during the bloody events of 2008.
