Horrific tales Emerge from Syria’s notorious Prisons
moaz Merheb, a 50-year-old Lebanese man, recently returned home after spending 18 years imprisoned in Syria. His harrowing account details the systematic torture and inhumane conditions he endured within the regime’s notorious prisons, offering a chilling glimpse into the realities faced by countless detainees.
merheb’s ordeal began in 2006, when he was arrested in Douma while returning from Iraq, where he worked as a journalist. His release followed the recent changes in Syria and the liberation of thousands of prisoners. He arrived in Lebanon on wednesday, a grandfather now, having been separated from his young children at the time of his arrest.
Lebanese Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi announced the return of nine citizens released from Syrian prisons on Tuesday. Merheb’s testimony, shared in an interview, paints a grim picture of systematic abuse.
“We were subjected to multiple forms of torture at the hands of investigators and jailers, ranging from beatings and stripping to the use of intimidation and humiliation methods, in addition to insults and insults,” Merheb recounted. He described the use of a “quadruple cable,” an electric cable used to inflict brutal beatings, stating that each blow “snatched the flesh and blood from our bodies.”
Another torture method involved being placed inside a large car tire and subjected to severe beatings. Merheb explained that the torture was so intense that detainees would often confess to any charge to make it stop. “Everything people hear about torture in the prisons of the deposed regime is true,” he stated.
His imprisonment spanned several facilities, including the State Security prison in Kafr sousse, the Palestine Branch in Damascus (known for its brutal conditions), and the infamous Saydnaya prison. He described Saydnaya, known as the “human slaughterhouse,” as a place where “people die every day under torture, and some detainees are skinned due to the severity of the torture.”
He spent five years in Saydnaya before being transferred to Adra Central Prison in 2011 with the outbreak of the Syrian revolution. Detainees were routinely forced to sign confessions without being allowed to read them. “Whoever refuses to be fingerprinted may have his finger cut off,” Merheb revealed.
Conditions were horrific, with approximately 60 people crammed into a small dormitory, and food rations consisting of meager amounts of bread or bulgur. Merheb even recounted instances where a fellow inmate, a convicted criminal serving as a prison sergeant, murdered other detainees to steal their food.
Merheb’s story highlights the long-standing human rights abuses within the syrian prison system, a reality that has impacted not only Syrians but also citizens of neighboring countries like Lebanon. Hundreds of Lebanese were imprisoned in Syria during the Syrian presence in Lebanon (1976-2005), often for political reasons or suspected opposition to the regime. While some Lebanese detainees were released in previous years, concerns remain about those still held.
Merheb’s testimony serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing human rights crisis in Syria and the urgent need for accountability for those responsible for these atrocities. His story underscores the importance of continued international pressure to ensure justice for victims and prevent future abuses.
Damascus Falls: Assad Regime Ousted After 55 years
In a stunning turn of events, Syrian opposition factions seized control of Damascus at dawn on December 8th, marking the dramatic end of bashar al-Assad’s regime and the Assad family’s 55-year reign over the country.the swift takeover has sent shockwaves across the globe,raising questions about the future of Syria and its regional impact.
The fall of the Assad regime is a notable geopolitical event with potential ramifications for U.S. foreign policy. The long-standing conflict in Syria has been a major humanitarian crisis, and the change in power could significantly alter the landscape of the region, impacting everything from refugee flows to counterterrorism efforts.
The situation also highlights the plight of hundreds of Lebanese citizens who have been forcibly disappeared in Syrian prisons. According to a non-governmental organization,the number of missing Lebanese is a staggering 622.This grim statistic underscores the human cost of the conflict and the urgent need for accountability.
The Assad family’s departure for Russia signals a new chapter for Syria, though the path ahead remains uncertain. the transition of power will undoubtedly be fraught with challenges, including the need for establishing a stable government, addressing humanitarian needs, and ensuring justice for victims of the conflict.
The international community will be closely watching the developments in Syria, particularly concerning the fate of those missing and the establishment of a peaceful and democratic future for the Syrian people. The long-term consequences of this momentous event are yet to unfold, but the fall of the Assad regime marks a pivotal moment in the history of the Middle east.
