Syrian Rebels Free Prisoners from Assad’s Prisons, Celebrations Erupt in Damascus

Syria prisoner liberation/ Assad regime fall/ Syrian civil war/ Damascus celebrations/ Saydnaya prison torture/ Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Syrian rebels have liberated tens of thousands of detainees from Bashar Assad’s notorious prisons, marking a historic moment after the regime’s collapse. Freed prisoners celebrated in Damascus, while families searched desperately for loved ones who had disappeared during Assad’s 50-year rule.

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Syrian Prisoners Freed as Assad Regime Falls: Quick Looks

• Historic Liberation: Syrian rebels freed tens of thousands of political prisoners as Assad’s rule ended.
• Detainee Celebrations: Freed prisoners rejoiced in Damascus streets after years of torture and isolation.
• Prison Conditions: Assad’s prisons were infamous for systematic torture, starvation, and secret executions.
• Emotional Searches: Families of detainees crowded outside prisons, hoping to reunite with loved ones.
• Rebels’ Role: Insurgents liberated prisoners in cities like Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, and Hama.
• Global Awe: Advocates praised the liberation after years of global inaction on Assad’s atrocities.

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Syrian Rebels Free Prisoners from Assad’s Prisons, Celebrations Erupt in Damascus

Deep Look

Rebels Liberate Assad’s Prisoners

In a historic act that symbolizes the end of Bashar Assad’s 50-year regime, Syrian rebels swept across the country, freeing tens of thousands of detainees from infamous prisons. These prisoners, many of whom had been tortured or faced execution, poured into the streets of Damascus and other cities, celebrating newfound freedom.

Among them was 63-year-old writer Bashar Barhoum, who thought he was about to be executed after seven months in detention. “Instead of being dead tomorrow, thank God, he gave me a new lease on life,” Barhoum told the AP as he wandered the streets in disbelief, searching for a way to contact his family.

Videos shared on social media showed barefoot prisoners running from facilities, crying in joy, and celebrating the regime’s downfall.

Torture and Death in Assad’s Prisons

Assad’s prisons became synonymous with brutality during Syria’s civil war. Human rights groups and whistleblowers exposed the systematic torture, starvation, and secret executions that occurred in these facilities.

• Caesar’s Evidence: In 2013, a Syrian military defector smuggled out over 53,000 photographs, documenting the horrific conditions inside Assad’s prisons. These images provided undeniable evidence of torture and inhumane treatment.
• Saydnaya Prison: Known as the “human slaughterhouse,” Saydnaya became infamous for its weekly secret executions. Amnesty International estimated that 13,000 people were killed there between 2011 and 2016.

Lina Khatib of Chatham House explained that these prisons were not just tools of repression but also key to maintaining Assad’s control through fear.

The Search for Missing Loved Ones

For many Syrians, the celebration of Assad’s fall was overshadowed by uncertainty. Families of detainees gathered outside prisons and security branches, desperate to find missing loved ones who had been detained over the past 13 years.

• Family Heartbreak: Bassam Masri, whose son was imprisoned for 13 years, searched frantically among the crowds. “This happiness will not be complete until I can see my son out of prison and know where he is,” he said.
• Stories of Loss: Heba, a woman whose brother and brother-in-law disappeared in 2011, joined the crowds. “They burned our hearts,” she said, referring to the Assad regime’s devastating impact on families.

Rebels’ Role in Liberation

Over the past 10 days, Syrian rebels focused on liberating prisons in cities like Aleppo, Homs, Hama, and Damascus. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimated that tens of thousands of prisoners were freed.

While many celebrated, the scenes outside detention centers highlighted the chaos and emotional toll of the moment. Rebels struggled to manage the crowds as families searched desperately for loved ones.

Global Praise and Reflection

The mass liberation drew praise from human rights advocates, who had long criticized the global community for inaction on Assad’s atrocities. Omar Alshogre, a former detainee and human rights advocate now living abroad, expressed awe at the rebels’ achievements.

“A hundred democracies in the world had done nothing to help them, and now a few military groups came down and broke open prison after prison,” Alshogre said.

While the fall of Assad’s regime marks a turning point for Syria, the challenges of rebuilding the nation and addressing years of trauma remain immense. For many families, the priority is simple: finding their loved ones and ensuring they never face such horrors again.

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