For decades, Syrians lived in terror of the concrete walls of Damascus’s security compound. Now, following the fall of the Assad dynasty, the chilling secrets of these infamous Syrian dungeons and torture chambers are emerging, shedding light on the brutality that defined Bashar al-Assad’s regime. As the dust settles in Syria’s capital, survivors are speaking out about their terrifying experiences, and many are searching for missing loved ones who vanished behind these walls.
The Dark Legacy of Syria’s Security Compound
The Syrian security compound in the Kafr Sousa district of Damascus was once a forbidden zone, where the Assad regime’s security services operated with impunity. For years, this compound housed several of the regime’s most feared agencies, each running its own network of underground prisons and interrogation rooms. The complex served as the backbone of the government’s brutal tactics to crush dissent.
But today, as rebel forces have swept through Damascus, those very dungeons are revealing their horrific truths.
A Glimpse Inside the Forgotten Prisons
Among the first responders wandering the ruins of the compound is Sleiman Kahwaji, a former detainee who was arrested in 2014. He was just a teenager at the time, accused of terrorism—a common charge under the Assad regime. The fact that Kahwaji was a school student made no difference. His detention was a terrifying reality for thousands of Syrians.
Kahwaji’s story is one of many, each more harrowing than the last. He recalls being held in one of the compound’s underground cells for 55 days, alongside 54 other men. The conditions were inhumane: overcrowding, deprivation, and brutal treatment. “Two died, one from diabetes,” he says, his voice tinged with the weight of memories he’ll never forget. The walls of the dungeon were covered with graffiti, some of which was likely written in blood. One phrase stuck with him: “My dear mother.”
For many, these underground prisons were a place of absolute despair, with some cells so cramped that prisoners couldn’t even lie down. Larger cells were no better. As many as 80 prisoners were forced into these spaces, taking turns to sleep, living in constant fear of torture or death.
The Grim Toll of Torture
The Syrian regime’s torture chambers were infamous for their brutality. Thaer Mustafa, another former detainee, recalls his arrest for alleged desertion. He spent countless hours being tortured in the same security compound before being transferred to the notorious Saydnaya Prison. This prison, located just outside Damascus, was known for holding long-term detainees who survived the initial interrogation.
The stories of torture that came out of these prisons were chilling: electric shocks, beatings, and worse. The goal was simple: to break the spirit of anyone suspected of opposition to the Assad regime.
Abandoned Files: The Proof of Government Oppression
After rebel fighters stormed the compound and freed the prisoners, they stumbled upon a treasure trove of intelligence files. Thousands of documents were abandoned in a hurry, revealing just how far the regime went to maintain control.
One file revealed a list of more than 10,000 Muslim Brotherhood members—individuals persecuted for their political beliefs. The regime’s fear of the group was evident in its brutal crackdown, including executions and long-term detention. A handwritten note documented the detention and death of each prisoner, often with meticulous details about the cause of death.
In the midst of this chaos, one particular document caught attention: it detailed the interrogation of a British-Syrian man accused of working with British intelligence. For the regime, no one was safe—not even foreigners or high-ranking officials.
Families Search for Answers
As the files were uncovered, desperate families flooded into the security zone, searching for missing loved ones. Khouloud Amini, a mother whose son Obada Amini was arrested in 2013, was one of them. She visited Saydnaya Prison, but there was no trace of her son. Her only hope now is that the underground dungeons of the Kafr Sousa compound might hold the key to his whereabouts.
“I hope that all Syrian prisoners are freed,” Amini says, her eyes filled with both despair and determination. Her search, like many others, is far from over.
The Unspoken Price of Oppression
The stories of those who survived Syria’s torture chambers are heartbreaking, but they are also a reminder of the lengths a regime will go to in order to maintain power. The Assad regime was notorious for its use of fear and intimidation to crush any form of dissent. But as these secrets of Assad’s dungeons continue to come to light, it’s clear that the true cost of this oppression was paid in lives shattered, families destroyed, and an entire society broken by fear.
Seeking Justice and Accountability
While many have been freed, there is still much work to be done. Survivors like Kahwaji and Mustafa are fighting for justice, not just for themselves, but for all those who perished in Assad’s dungeons. The discovery of these intelligence files could play a crucial role in holding those responsible accountable.
Human rights organizations and international bodies are already calling for investigations into the abuses that took place in Syria’s secret prisons. The survivors’ testimony, along with the documents now in the public domain, could pave the way for a reckoning that the Assad regime has long tried to hide.
Photo credit: AFP
