Syria’s White Helmets Director Says Sednaya Prison Was ‘Hell’ For Detainees
The director of the Syrian White Helmets, Raed Saleh, has described the notorious Sednaya prison as “hell” for detainees, alleging that thousands of people have been executed there in recent years.
A History of Human Rights Abuses
Sednaya prison is a military prison located about 25 kilometers north of Damascus. It has been in operation since the 1950s and has a long history of human rights abuses.
In 2016, Amnesty International published a report alleging that at least 13,000 people were hanged at Sednaya between 2011 and 2015. The report was based on interviews with former detainees and guards.
The Syrian government has denied the allegations of mass executions at Sednaya. However, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria has also documented evidence of human rights abuses at the prison, including arbitrary detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings.
The White Helmets’ Testimony
The White Helmets is a volunteer organization that has been providing humanitarian assistance in Syria since the start of the civil war in 2011. The group has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for its work rescuing civilians from the rubble of bombed buildings.
In a recent interview with the BBC, Raed Saleh said that he had heard from former detainees that Sednaya prison was “hell.” He said that detainees were subjected to torture, starvation, and beatings.
“I have heard from people who were detained in Sednaya that it is a place of absolute horror,” Saleh said. “They are treated like animals. They are tortured. They are starved. They are beaten.”
Saleh said that he believed that thousands of people had been executed at Sednaya in recent years. He said that the executions were carried out in secret and that the families of the victims were never told what had happened to them.
The Government’s Response
The Syrian government has denied the allegations of mass executions at Sednaya. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said that the claims were “baseless” and that the prison was in compliance with international law.
The government also accused the White Helmets of being a “terrorist organization” and of fabricating evidence to discredit the Syrian government.
The Need for Accountability
The allegations of mass executions at Sednaya are deeply disturbing. If true, they would constitute a serious war crime.
It is essential that there is an independent investigation into these allegations. The families of the victims deserve to know the truth about what happened to their loved ones.
The international community must also hold the Syrian government accountable for these crimes. Those responsible for the torture and execution of prisoners must be brought to justice.
The allegations of mass executions at Sednaya prison are a reminder of the brutality of the Syrian conflict.
The international community must not stand idly by while these crimes are committed. We must demand an independent investigation and hold the perpetrators accountable.
We must also not forget the victims of these crimes. Their stories must be told, and their memories must be honored.
