Sednaya Prison, located just outside the Syrian capital Damascus, has become a stark symbol of the human rights abuses that occurred during the civil war in Syria. Detainees within the walls of this maximum-security facility were subjected to horrific conditions, including systematic torture, inhumane living conditions, and denial of basic human rights.
Built in the 1970s, the prison was initially intended to hold political prisoners. However, by the early 2000s, according to Human Rights Watch reports, it had become notorious for incarcerating and maltreating individuals on the basis of their political affiliations, ethnicity, or religious beliefs. Not only were detainees subjected to brutal torture methods, but they were often held without trial, in some cases for decades.
Despite the overwhelming evidence presented by multiple human rights organizations, the Syrian government has consistently denied any wrongdoing within the prison walls. In 2016, the United Nations officially condemned what they called a “policy of extrajudicial execution” perpetrated by the government forces and their allies in Sednaya and elsewhere.
The extent of the violence and devaluation of human rights accompanying the Syrian civil war, with a particular emphasis on Sednaya Prison, must be acknowledged and remembered. The horrifying reality of life in the prison remains an urgent call for accountability moving forward.
