Syrian rebels are trying to free thousands of prisoners from secret cells in Seydnaya prison

The prison is located 30 kilometers north of Damascus and was under the control of the Syrian Ministry of Defense and military police. Since 2011, not only political prisoners, opponents of the Bashar al-Assad regime, but also military personnel suspected of rebellion have been sent there. According to Amnesty International, many were tortured, and about 13 thousand people were executed.

Torture in Seydnaya prison was systematic, as evidenced by human rights activists and former prisoners. The rebels showed an “iron press” that was used to break the spines of prisoners. In 2017, several Syrians filed a complaint with the German Federal Prosecutor's Office, accusing the Syrian authorities of committing crimes against humanity and war crimes in Seydnaya prison.

The release of prisoners in Syria continued in other cities such as Aleppo, Homs, Hama and Damascus. Among those released were women and children, some of whom were born in Seydnaya prison. It is known that released prisoners often did not want to leave prison, fearing possible reprisals, and one of them could not even answer questions about his identity.