Syrians Celebrate Stunning Freedom as Assad’s Regime Crumbles and Prisoners Emerge
As the Assad regime collapses, former prisoners in Syria experience overwhelming joy and reunite with loved ones after years of torment in detention.
Syria, Assad, Saydnaya Prison, Freedom, Human Rights, Civil War
Damascus: It’s a wild scene as former prisoners flood out of Syrian jails, filled with joy and disbelief. They’re finally tasting freedom after years in one of the world’s most notorious prison systems, thanks to the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government.
Families are crying tears of joy as they reunite with loved ones who vanished into the dark depths of Assad’s regime. It’s been a long, painful wait for many, and now they can finally hold each other again.
During the civil war that kicked off in 2011, countless people were taken away to detention camps. Reports say torture was a common practice, and families often had no clue what happened to their loved ones.
As rebels took control of cities in a whirlwind eight-day campaign, they targeted prisons first. The infamous prisons around Damascus were finally opened, marking a significant moment in the uprising.
When they reached Saydnaya prison, rebels shot the lock off the gate. A video captured the moment, showing men rushing out into the open, cheering and helping others escape from their cells.
In what seemed to be the women’s section, a rebel recorded the moment he opened the doors for prisoners who had no idea they were about to be freed. One woman shouted, “May God honour you!” as she stepped out, and a toddler was seen wandering the halls, having been held with his mother.
“He (Assad) has fallen. Don’t be scared,” someone shouted, trying to reassure the newly freed prisoners.
Zakaria Al-Ashara, who spent five years in Saydnaya, described the feeling of freedom as indescribable. He shared how he was tortured and starved, witnessing fellow inmates die from hunger and illness.
“It’s a beautiful feeling. I dreamed of this moment every day,” he said, recalling how he sometimes survived on just a piece of bread.
“People died from humiliation and torture. Even food brought by visitors was taken from us. Guards would storm our cells at night, killing people for fun.”
Outside the prison, families waited anxiously for news of their loved ones. Fakhria, whose son has been missing for ten years, expressed her heartache. “Every day feels like a year. Waiting is worse than death,” she said, her hope rekindled but still filled with uncertainty.
Sara, who hasn’t heard from her brother in years, echoed similar feelings. “Every video and piece of news just raises more questions. Is he alive? Did he die under torture?” she asked, desperate for any information.
“We want a grave to mourn at. Waiting is crueler than death.”
Additional reporting by Rajaai Bourhan