'I felt like a breathing corpse': Stories from people freed from Syria torture prison

In a significant moment in Syria's history, a group of rebels managed to free prisoners from Saydnaya prison, a place notorious for its brutal treatment of inmates. This event marked a turning point in the ongoing conflict, and four men who were released shared their emotional stories with the BBC. They spoke about the overwhelming joy of their newfound freedom after enduring years of torture and mistreatment. The men recalled the moment they heard voices outside their cell, initially filled with fear as they had learned that the opening of the door often meant punishment. However, on this day, it was different. They heard a voice calling out, 'Is there anyone in there? ' After a moment of hesitation, they responded, 'We are here. Free us. ' Qasem, one of the released prisoners, vividly remembered how he ran out of the prison barefoot, filled with a mix of terror and exhilaration. Adnan, another inmate, described it as the best day of his life, a feeling akin to escaping death itself. They were unaware that President Bashar al-Assad had fled the country, leading to the collapse of his regime. The news of their freedom soon reached them, filling them with hope. The men recounted their harrowing experiences in Saydnaya prison, where they faced unimaginable horrors at the hands of the guards. They described the physical and psychological torture they endured, including beatings, forced confessions, and witnessing the executions of fellow inmates. Amnesty International has condemned the actions of the Syrian authorities, calling for justice for the crimes committed in Saydnaya. Established in the early 1980s, Saydnaya prison has been a place of suffering for political prisoners, especially since the uprising in 2011. The men explained that they were imprisoned due to their perceived connections to the rebel Free Syrian Army or simply because they lived in opposition to the Assad regime. Many were accused of serious crimes, but they insisted that their confessions were obtained under duress and torture. Qasem shared how he was arrested in 2016 while passing through a checkpoint, accused of terrorism, and subsequently transferred to Saydnaya after being held in various detention facilities. He described the moment he entered the prison as a death sentence, saying, 'After that door, you are a dead person. ' The conditions inside Saydnaya were horrific. The prisoners were often stripped of their clothing and subjected to brutal beatings. They were crammed into small, dark cells with little to no food or water for days on end. When they were finally moved to the main cells, they found themselves in rooms devoid of basic necessities, with only a single lightbulb and a small toilet area. The men recounted how they were not allowed to speak to one another, living in constant fear of punishment for any form of communication. Adnan described the nightly ritual of thanking God for their survival and praying for death to come peacefully. The guards employed various forms of torture, including beatings with metal rods and electric sticks. The men also witnessed horrific acts of sexual violence perpetrated by the guards against fellow inmates. Imad, another released prisoner, described his time in Saydnaya as filled with suffering, stating, 'No eat. No sleep. Hit. Cane. Fighting. Everything not normal. ' The prisoners had little to look forward to, and any moments of joy were often met with severe punishment. Rakan, another inmate, shared that every time they had a shower or a visitor, they would face repercussions. The guards would call out names at midnight, and the prisoners knew that those called would never return. Families of the prisoners often tried to help by sending money for food, but corrupt officials would keep most of it for themselves, leaving the inmates malnourished. The men lost significant weight and suffered from various diseases, but the psychological toll of living in constant fear was even more devastating. They had no idea what was happening outside the prison walls until the day of their liberation. When the rebels arrived to rescue them, they ran as fast as they could, filled with a mix of joy and fear. Rakan even got hit by a car during the chaos but continued to run, desperate to escape. Adnan ran towards Damascus, tears streaming down his face as he embraced his newfound freedom. Qasem found himself in a town called Tal Mneen, where he learned that Assad's regime had fallen. He was finally reunited with his family, who welcomed him with open arms, and he expressed the overwhelming feeling of being 'born again. ' This powerful story highlights the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable suffering and the hope that freedom brings after years of oppression.