Opposition fighters in Syria have launched a successful campaign to liberate thousands of people from the oppressive prisons of the Bashar al-Assad regime. The lightning offensive saw the fighters capture major cities like Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and Damascus, where they freed prisoners and exposed the horrific conditions within the regime’s detention facilities. The fighters and relief workers continue to search for and release more prisoners, offering hope to families of those who have disappeared into the regime’s dungeons or death camps.
According to a United Nations report, there were over 100 detention facilities in Syria, including notorious prisons like Tadmor and Sednaya. Conditions in these prisons were described as horrific, with thousands of people tortured, killed, and dumped in mass graves. The regime’s brutal tactics included mass hangings, torture, and starvation.
The number of people arrested in Syria between 2011 and 2014 was staggering, with thousands of children and women among the detainees. Many people have been abducted by Syria’s security services over the years, with countless still trapped in underground dungeons. Relief groups and the White Helmets have offered rewards for information leading to the discovery of secret facilities where detainees are still held.
The Syrian regime used torture methods like the “German chair” and the “flying carpet” to punish detainees and instill fear in the population. The regime’s goal was to terrorize and silence dissent, with any criticism risking disappearance into one of the regime’s prisons. The fighters’ efforts to liberate prisoners and expose the regime’s atrocities offer a glimmer of hope for those affected by years of oppression.
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