The Assad regime's atrocities were exposed at its 'death factory' on the hill.

Some prisoners experienced graphic accounts of their experiences in Assad's prisons, as detailed in this article.

One institution, Sednaya prison, stands as a chilling symbol of the regime's systemic violence in the shadow of Syria's brutal civil war. Known as the "Death Factory" or the "Human Slaughterhouse," Sednaya became a site of unimaginable suffering.

According to reports, over 100,000 individuals have vanished into Assad's prisons, where thousands of women and children were subjected to torture and execution.

"According to Joseph Braude, founder of the Center for Peace Communications, at least 10% of detainees in Sednaya prisons have lost their lives, though some reports suggest the figure could be as high as 20%. The number of missing loved ones continues to rise as families speak out about the whereabouts of their missing relatives, many of whom remain unaccounted for."

The political prisoners released from Syria's prisons have exposed the grim reality of Bashar Assad's regime of torture.

Sednaya was not merely a prison; it was a device used to suppress any form of opposition or humanity. According to Ahed Al Hendi, a former political prisoner and Syrian affairs analyst, the prison was situated on a hill outside Damascus. "We would see it while traveling to a nearby tourist area, but even if you were just driving by, you were afraid to discuss it," he said. If someone mentioned "Sednaya," they would end up there.

Al Hendi stated: "My friends have described the horrific sights they witnessed at Sednaya this week. They discovered piles of bones, with fresh blood still staining the floor, the stench of death, and the torture devices, which were the most disturbing things they’ve ever seen. One friend shared that he saw a mother embracing the torture machine, believing her son had been killed there. It was a heart-wrenching scene, seeing her clinging to the device that took her son’s life, thinking she could still detect his scent on it."

As the atrocities committed by the Assad regime at Sednaya become more evident, and after days of searching for survivors and accepting that some individuals may never be found, the focus has shifted to mass graves. Braude's team on the ground in Syria is currently collecting evidence. "We're documenting, we're interviewing people who are there, trying to use equipment to discover any possibility of secret underground prisons," he said. The team recently worked at a mass grave site "where we estimate 100,000 people were buried."

"According to Al Hendi, some of the individuals found in mass graves originated from Sednaya and were tortured to death. Their bodies exhibited gunshot wounds, and they were transported to a vast location where the government positioned old military equipment to give the impression of a restricted military zone. Local residents reported observing refrigerated trucks entering the area with security forces obstructing the roads. The trucks remained for several hours before departing. Over time, the community grew accustomed to the odor of death."

The Sednaya prison served as a symbol of the regime's unyielding oppression, as evidenced by Al Hendi's experience. He was arrested for establishing a secular anti-regime student organization, and his arrest was not limited to political opponents. Children and women were also taken as hostages to pressure their fathers or husbands. Prison guards raped women, resulting in the birth of children within the prison walls. Entire families were destroyed by the regime's actions.

Prisoners in Sednaya were subjected to inhumane conditions, with frequent starvation, beatings, and electric torture. According to Al Hendi, when prisoners were executed, they were not fed for three days prior to their death. The guards would say, "Why feed him? We will take the food for ourselves." Imagine the horror of being denied even a last meal before facing execution.

The atrocities committed at Sednaya were part of a broader campaign by the Assad regime to exterminate its opposition in the most horrific ways. Both Braude and Al Hendi emphasize the need for accountability. "What we need now is truth and reconciliation," Braude says. "Only by acknowledging the suffering and recognizing the full scope of the atrocities can Syria begin to heal. If we don’t do that, we risk perpetuating cycles of vengeance."

The prisoners who were released from Sednaya after the fall of the Assad regime were traumatized, with many unable to recall their own names. They had been held captive for so long that they were unaware that Assad's father had passed away. They believed that Assad was still in power.

The Head of the International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism for Syria (IIIM), Robert Petit, visited Damascus and observed the extensive documentation of the regime's atrocities. In a press release, he noted the "chilling efficiency" with which these crimes had been systematized. He emphasized the urgent need to preserve this evidence, warning, "Time is running out. There is a small window of opportunity to secure these sites and the material they hold. Each day we fail to do so, we risk losing the chance for comprehensive accountability."

The investigations into Sednaya and the mass graves have revealed the regime's violent actions, but they also serve as a call for justice, according to Braude. "The consequences of the Assad regime's atrocities are profound. The key question now is how the population can move forward and rebuild, rather than descending into further civil conflict. There is a fear of cycles of vengeance, but true reconciliation can only come through truth and acknowledgment."

The Alawi community accounts for half of Syria's young population, with most of them working in the army or secret police. The rebels have proposed a solution to Russia: Assad and 100 top officials responsible for atrocities will be surrendered, and low-level perpetrators who followed orders will be granted amnesty. If Russia facilitates this, it could help prevent further violence and bring stability to Syria.