Through satellite images and 3D models, the terrifying realities of Syria's most notorious prison, Sednaya, have been unveiled. This prison, built in 1987, has been used by tyrant Bashar al-Assad to intimidate and eliminate his dissenters.
Camp of Death Perception
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, more than 30,000 inmates have perished in this prison since the Syrian civil war began in 2011. Known as a 'Death Camp' and 'Slaughterhouse', Sednaya subjected inmates to inhumane torture, including starvation, lack of medical care, and physical violence.
Inmates underwent torture to the point of losing their identities. A 2018 Washington Post report described an ex-inmate recounting how guards pinned a prisoner to a wall with a metal pipe around his neck. His body lay all night.
Source: aajtak
Prisoners were often forced to kill fellow inmates. Refusal often led to withholding food and medical aid. Released inmates expressed attempts to break them mentally and physically.
In 2018, excavations at the prison revealed dozens of dismembered bodies, leaving families unable to identify their loved ones. A local hospital official described bodies in such poor condition that identification was nearly impossible.
Architecture and Security of the Prison
Sednaya Prison featured three tiers of security. Anti-tank mines surrounded it to prevent external attacks.
The first security team monitored the outer walls and main entrance. The second team, loyal to Assad, consisted of 200 soldiers poised to suppress large-scale assaults or jailbreak attempts. The third team monitored internal activities, watching for breakthroughs in the walls.
Digital model of Sednaya.
Two main structures existed: the Red Building for civilian prisoners and the White Building for military detainees. Weekly hangings were routine in both.
Amnesty International reports indicated that Red Building inmates faced physical and sexual torture, with walls designed to break prisoners both mentally and physically.
Excavation Reveals Horrifying Truths
Following the fall of Assad's regime, prison excavations uncovered dozens of bodies in terrible states, proving nearly impossible to identify. The local community searched through remains to find their relatives.
Source: aajtak
Once an emblem of Assad's rule, Sednaya Prison is now a haunting tale of history. Satellite images and 3D models have disclosed its gruesome facts, where thousands faced inhumane torture.
