Striking images reveal a toddler held in an underground cell as thousands of prisoners are released following the fall of Assad’s regime.
A toddler’s release from an underground cell in Syria’s infamous Saydnaya military prison has come to symbolise the horrors of a regime that ruled the country with an iron grip for 50 years. The chilling footage emerged as thousands of detainees were freed following the downfall of Bashar al-Assad’s government.
The Saydnaya prison, notorious for its inhumane conditions and brutal executions, lies just north of Damascus. For decades, it has been the site of systemic torture, abuse, and death, with human rights groups estimating that up to 13,000 Syrians were secretly executed there between 2011 and 2016. Known as the “human slaughterhouse,” the prison’s grim reputation was brought to light as rebels overthrew Assad’s regime.
Amidst cries of jubilation and relief, women detainees, some clutching children, screamed as rebels smashed locks to free them. “Don’t be afraid … Bashar Assad has fallen! Why are you afraid?” shouted one of the rebels as the prisoners hesitated, their trauma evident.
Chaos and hope amid freedom
Over the past ten days, tens of thousands of detainees have been released from various prisons, including those in Aleppo, Homs, Hama, and Damascus. The scenes were chaotic as families, overwhelmed by emotions, gathered outside prison gates and security centres, hoping to reunite with missing loved ones.
Among the freed was 63-year-old Bashar Barhoum, who had spent seven months in Saydnaya. Scheduled for execution the day after the regime’s collapse, Barhoum described his miraculous release. “I haven’t seen the sun until today. Instead of being dead tomorrow, thank God, he gave me a new lease of life,” he told the Associated Press.
Yet, for many, joy remains incomplete. Bassam Masri, a father searching for his son detained 13 years ago at the start of the Syrian uprising, spoke of his heartache. “This happiness will not be completed until I can see my son out of prison and know where he is,” he said.
Heba, another searcher, described the long years of anguish her family endured. Her brother and brother-in-law disappeared in 2011 after attempting to report a stolen car. “They took away so many of us,” she said. “We know nothing about them … They burned our hearts.”
Evidence of atrocities
Videos circulating on social media showed the emotional release of prisoners, some barefoot, others in tattered clothing. As they ran free, their joy was tempered by the memories of torture and suffering endured behind prison walls.
Saydnaya and other Syrian prisons have long been synonymous with brutality. Torture was widespread, and secret executions were carried out in facilities run by Syrian intelligence. In 2013, a military defector codenamed “Caesar” smuggled out over 53,000 photographs exposing the appalling conditions. The images provided clear evidence of starvation, disease, and rampant abuse.
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Amnesty International has described these prisons as centres of systematic human rights violations, part of a regime strategy to silence dissent and maintain power through fear. Lina Khatib, an Associate Fellow at Chatham House, noted the dual purpose of Syria’s prisons. “They were not only to isolate Assad’s opponents but also to instil fear among his own people,” she said.
A nation in transition
With Assad’s regime toppled, Syria now faces the monumental task of rebuilding a country shattered by war and repression. Rebels are struggling to maintain order amidst the chaos, as crowds throng the Court of Justice in Damascus and other key sites.
For many Syrians, the immediate focus remains on the fate of their loved ones. As the country takes its first steps towards a new future, the scars of the past linger. The release of the Saydnaya prisoners serves as both a moment of relief and a grim reminder of the suffering endured under the Assad dynasty.
The images of the toddler freed from the underground cell capture both the horrors of the past and the fragile hope for a better future. Syria’s long night may be ending, but the dawn is fraught with challenges as the nation grapples with justice, healing, and the rebuilding of trust.
