The Fall of Bashar al-Assad’s Regime: Harrowing Tales from Sednaya Prison

It was a defining moment in Syria’s history when Bashar al-Assad’s regime fell, and rebels freed prisoners from notorious detention centres like Sednaya Prison. Known globally for its horrifying reputation, this prison witnessed unspeakable violence, torture, and inhumane treatment of detainees.

The Day of Freedom

One prisoner recalled: “We heard loud noises outside the prison gate. We feared it was another punishment announcement. But when we peered outside, we saw rebels instead of guards.”

The shouts of “Allahu Akbar” echoed as prisoners realised the noise signified freedom rather than fear.

Qassem al-Qablan, 30, said: “We shouted, ‘We’re here! Free us!’ The rebels shot the locks open, and I ran out barefoot.”

Like many others, Qassem didn’t look back. Another former prisoner, Adnan Ahmad Ghanem, 31, described the moment: “They came to free us, shouting for everyone to leave. I ran, terrified that they might capture me again.”

Initially unaware that Bashar al-Assad had fled and the regime had collapsed, news of freedom soon reached them.

Adnan said: “It was the best day of my life. It felt like escaping death.”

Life in Sednaya Prison

Four former prisoners, including Qassem and Adnan, shared their harrowing experiences with the BBC. Sednaya Prison, infamous as a “human slaughterhouse,” is a place where survival was a matter of luck.

Prisoners spoke of relentless torture, killings, corruption, and forced confessions. One ex-detainee showed his former cell, etched with marks from his desperate attempts to count days. Overwhelmed with memories, he broke down in tears.

Each cell housed 20 men, yet isolation was a constant. Communication was limited to whispers, as guards monitored every move. Qassem recalled: “We weren’t allowed to do anything. We could only eat, sleep, and wait to die.”

Torture methods included beatings with metal rods, electric shocks, and waterboarding. Adnan recounted: “Guards would enter and start hitting us mercilessly. Each night, we thanked God for surviving and prayed for a peaceful death the next day.”

Brutality Beyond Imagination

For some, punishments were unimaginably cruel. Qassem described being suspended upside down in a water drum until he felt he would drown. Another prisoner said he was forced to kneel, his knees pressed to his chest, while a guard jumped on his back, breaking his spine.

Sexual abuse was rampant. Guards demanded favours in exchange for food. One detainee said: “If someone asked for extra food, they’d be offered oral sex as a trade.”

Hunger was a constant torment. Adnan recalled: “Sometimes we were given a piece of bread; other times, half of that. Eventually, there was nothing.”

Corruption and Survival

Families paid bribes to reduce sentences or ensure survival. Qassem’s family reportedly paid $10,000 to prevent his execution, which turned a death sentence into 20 years of imprisonment.

However, survival didn’t guarantee comfort. Illnesses spread rapidly, and medical care was scarce. Some prisoners developed tuberculosis, while others suffered from psychological trauma.

The Moment of Liberation

As the prison gates opened, chaos erupted. Some prisoners sprinted into the unknown, driven by fear and hope. Adnan, running barefoot towards Damascus, said: “I can’t describe how I felt. Even now, I fear waking up back in that cell.”

Qassem headed to Tal Manin, where a woman offered food, money, and clothes, confirming the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. When he returned to his village, he was welcomed with gunfire celebrations and tearful hugs from his family.

“It felt like being born again,” he said, summarising the emotional end to a nightmare endured by countless others.