Amnesty Accuses Syria of Mass Hangings in Infamous Jail
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Amnesty International accused Tuesday Syria's government of hanging up to 13,000 people at a notorious prison over five years in a "policy of extermination", two weeks before planned peace talks.
The damning report, titled "Human Slaughterhouse: Mass hanging and extermination at Saydnaya prison" near Damascus, goes into excruciating detail about the gruesome ritual of mass hangings between 2011 and 2015.
At least once a week, up to 50 prisoners were taken out of their cells for arbitrary trials, beaten, then hanged "in the middle of the night and in total secrecy", the report said.
"Throughout this process, they remain blindfolded. They do not know when or how they will die until the noose was placed around their necks."
Most of the victims were civilians believed to be opposed to the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
"They kept them (hanging) there for 10 to 15 minutes," a former judge who witnessed the executions said.
"For the young ones, their weight wouldn't kill them. The officers' assistants would pull them down and break their necks."
Amnesty said the mass executions amounted to war crimes and crimes against humanity, but were likely still taking place.
Hamid, a former army officer who was jailed in 2012, told Amnesty he was simultaneously horrified and relieved when he saw prisoners being taken to be hanged.
"I felt happy that their suffering would come to an end."
In comments published Tuesday, Assad insisted that "defending" his country in a time of war was more important than a potential case against his government at the highest UN court in The Hague.
"We have to defend our country by every mean, and when we have to defend it by every mean, we don't care about this court, or any other international institution," he said.
- 'All you see is blood' -Amnesty's report comes just two weeks before a new round of talks is due to take place in Switzerland aimed at putting an end to nearly six years of civil war.
"The upcoming Syria peace talks in Geneva cannot ignore these findings. Ending these atrocities in Syrian government prisons must be put on the agenda," said Lynn Maalouf, deputy director for research at Amnesty's Beirut office.
Thousands of prisoners are held at the military-run Saydnaya prison, 30 kilometres (18 miles) north of Damascus, one of Syria's largest detention centres.
Amnesty accused Syria's government of carrying out a "policy of extermination" there by repeatedly torturing detainees and withholding food, water and medical care.
"All you see is blood: your own blood, the blood of others," Salam, a lawyer from Aleppo who was held in Saydnaya from 2012 to 2014, was quoted as saying.
Prisoners were raped or forced to rape each other, and guards would feed detainees by tossing food onto cell floors, which were often covered in dirt and blood, Amnesty said.
A twisted set of "special rules" governed the facility: detainees were not allowed to speak and were forced to assume certain positions when guards entered their cells.
"Every day there would be two or three dead people in our wing... I remember the guard would ask how many we had. He would say, 'Room number one -– how many? Room number two –- how many?' and on and on," said Nader, a former detainee whose name was changed in the Amnesty report.
After one fierce day of beating, 13 people died in a single wing of the prison, he said.
- 'Hidden, monstrous campaign' -"If you put your ears on the floor, you could hear the sound of a kind of gurgling," said Hamid, the military officer.
"We were sleeping on top of the sound of people choking to death. This was normal for me then," he told Amnesty.
The watchdog has previously said that more than 17,700 people were estimated to have died in government custody in Syria since the conflict erupted in March 2011.
That figure did not include the up to 13,000 people executed in Saydnaya.
"The horrors depicted in this report reveal a hidden, monstrous campaign, authorised at the highest levels of the Syrian government, aimed at crushing any form of dissent within the Syrian population," said Maalouf.
"The cold-blooded killing of thousands of defenceless prisoners, along with the carefully crafted and systematic programmes of psychological and physical torture that are in place inside Saydnaya prison cannot be allowed to continue," she said.
Amnesty said it gave the names of 87 prison officials and guards responsible for the atrocities to unspecified "bodies capable of conducting credible investigations" into the killings.
A UN investigation last year accused Assad's government of carrying out a policy of "extermination" in its jails.
More than 310,000 people have been killed in Syria since the civil war began.
07 February 2017, 10:35
411
The responses to this article show the lack of morality and dishonesty of the party of Iran in Lebanon. They have no honor and no shame and will defend a monstrous regime to the hilt. Since those murdered are overwhelmingly Sunnis, they do not matter to these sectarian monsters.
07 February 2017, 10:38
411
And these 1300 people were murdered in one prison (and does not cover the many other prisons and those executed on the spot) between 2011 h 2015
07 February 2017, 12:20
153
AD.com: we're calling you and the western propagandists liars, we dont believe your BS.
let us know when you find saddam's WMDs
07 February 2017, 12:44
413
ask Ahmad Chalabi and Nouri Malki of your wilayat al faqih who convinced the U.S administration to invade Iraq for pure sectarian reasons. It was Chalabi’s contention that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction.
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/04/world/middleeast/ahmad-chalabi-iraq-dead.html?_r=0
07 February 2017, 12:58
410
The shia heretic is saying since no WMDs were found in Iraq, Amnesty's report of assad's war crimes is fake as if Amnesty made the claim about Saddam's WMD and not his shia heretics who fed the U.S administration the false information.
07 February 2017, 13:15
113
So you want us to believe the U.S bombed & destroyed a nation whilst in the process killing over 2 million people because of false info from iran?
LMFAO...it just gets better & better.
07 February 2017, 13:19
47
Iranian troll. You are either a fool or a tool or both. There are tens of thousands of pictures of executed prisoners that were smuggled out of Syria and made available to press and to different human rights organizations who hired forensic experts who verified their authenticity. Many of the pictures of the victims were identified against missing persons lists. Amnesty international or human rights watch never made claims about Iraq WMD. Indeed they both documented violations of the American military and demanded trials. Again you show yourself to be a liar and a person with no honor or shame.
07 February 2017, 13:28
47
This is a report from human rights watch https://www.hrw.org/report/2015/12/16/if-dead-could-speak/mass-deaths-and-torture-syrias-detention-facilities
07 February 2017, 13:50
47
You are determined to be blind every time the truth is out about your lying leadership and the Syrian ruthless regime that created extremism when it never exist before in the early 80s.
The Mossad shot in the back all the Lebanese army soldiers and the rest that are still missing from 1991 right..keep lying to the people and you think we"lol believe your continued Iranian/Syrian propaganda
07 February 2017, 19:55
27
that's not what exfpm is saying that's what you are saying ya heretic. Your other alias the irani was asking "let us know when you find saddam's WMDs" and he got his answer.
07 February 2017, 20:52
24
Factual and Provocative
Determined and Daring
@mowaten
What can one say, another E-X-C-E-L-L-E-N-T comment. I particularly enjoyed the part where you said " let us know when you find saddam's WMDs "
Thank you for making this forum lovely, lively and vibrant.
Still laughing since January 2015 when you said the $3 billion Saudi grant was only to teach our soldiers the French language.
Thank you
Yours Sincerely
@CFTC
07 February 2017, 21:10
51
Trump said the other day that he condoned torture on suspected terrorists, so what is wrong here? You all worship zionist Trump.
07 February 2017, 21:14
13
You may love Trump. I do not. still you have no empathy for those killed. You simply defend the killer. Shame on you. No honor and no shame
07 February 2017, 21:16
50
One thing is for sure, all you Salafi supporters on Naharnet deserves to be put in a jail such as the one mentioned above.
07 February 2017, 21:20
03
did those two dead shia iranian terrorists in your avatar spend anytime in jail?
07 February 2017, 22:01
30
Jew from texas, here we have you defending the Israelis once again.
You do know it is treason to support Israel and their system right?
Pray you never get caught in Lebanon with those thoughts of yours.
I do support Assad, yes I never denied that. He stood his ground even when he was close to defeat at times.
He managed to burn salafism to hell in Syria, that I respect him for.
Also Assads supported the Resistance against Israel throughout the Southern Lebanon War, and 2006 war.
07 February 2017, 19:54
26
Thank you FT for proving yet again how empty your rhetoric is. I rely on credible human rights organizations (the same ones that your Iranian outlets rely on to highlight Saudi violations). You rely on propaganda outlets that are paid for by the Syrian, Iranian and Russian regimes. People have a choice of who the gullible person is.
07 February 2017, 08:59
413
Amnesty International is a zionist wahabi takfiri organization when it reports about the Syrian Regime's atrocities but a model and a reference in credibility when it reports about alleged crimes in Yemen or Bahrain.
That is how a shia heretic mind works.
07 February 2017, 10:33
49
hahahahahahaha!
That is called genius! You see how when you provide them with facts, I mean hard and solid facts like you just did, they are left dazed, confused and bewildered. I know it did not take you long to come up with these facts and that is what differentiates from the run of the mill posters.
In my book you are a legend in your own right.
In other words, you are somesing anazar flamesrower!
07 February 2017, 09:12
163
Does torture & inhuman practice take place around the world?
it certainly does...even the most outspoken nation on earth championing human rights was caught red handed...
Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib, guess who?
yes Syria is surely guilty of this practice as well.
Lets give Syria the same punishment the U.S was handed.
Oh wait they were not punished...
07 February 2017, 09:23
411
is assad still a dictator who never had your support?
is Syria still undemocratic as you've always maintained?
07 February 2017, 09:36
513
the article is about assad and syria if you know how to read and not the USA. See my point? Now tell us what are you doing posting between 7 a.m and 7 p.m australia time?
the_roar:
"most people have lives between the hours of 7am & 7pm..but I wish you well & hope you find some real purpose to your meaningless life."
07 February 2017, 09:41
163
& i tackled the issue regarding Assad, but also pointed out that others do it whilst the world ignores it.
How does that bother you?
07 February 2017, 09:43
153
Its 6.40 pm not 7am you ignorant lurker.
texas pointed out he posts from 7am till 7pm..bit like you, he has a real purpose to his life.
07 February 2017, 10:29
49
You piece of human slime. You are trying to justify the murder of 13000 in one prison in 4 years. Get some dignity. Get some shame. Get some humanity. And do not dare compare what happened in Guantanamo and Abu Greib (as atrocious as they were) with the genocide committed by this regime. You are a disgusting person along with every slime that supports that monstrous regime. You have on shame. No honor. Use lies and every deceitful trick in the book to defend their masters. You are worse - much worse - than the criminals in ISIS. You are sectarians to the bone and who could care little for the people whondo not belong to your sects. fascist!!!?
07 February 2017, 10:45
123
thank you for the kind words Arabdemocrat...You show your true colors
If its not your way, then we become infidels etc right?
If only you learn to read in context, I have not exonerated Assad or his regime of any crime...But i will repeat the text for slow people
The world is committing horrible crimes including human rights abuse, yet no one cares..even the most human rights champions of the world practice this & no one cared!
maybe you could be objective for once & see the bigger picture than your self hating narrow minded views
07 February 2017, 10:56
49
Another war crime, another holocaust, another massacre, another article as flamethrower(s) embarks on yet another journey in pursuit of his childhood dream to achieve excellence in the art of trolling.
07 February 2017, 11:03
47
No wimpers. You are justifying a monster. Someone who slaughtered and continue to slaughter on mass. I could care less about your religious beliefs or if you believe in God or not or if Ali or Abu Bakr should have been Caliph or Imam. And yes, you are an infidel- an infidel to the basis human decency and morality that we should all hold dear.
07 February 2017, 11:19
103
You sure do care about religious beliefs.
You're the most religious fanatic on this forum...only one truth for you.
07 February 2017, 11:29
47
The_wimper. Believe what you wish. Our writings are clear indication as to where we stand on human rights and who is the one that justifies crimes against humanity and the one that condemn them. I know a lot about Sunni and Shia Islamists and evangelical christian politics because I argue against them regularly as I see them as a threat to liberal democratic values I hold dear.
07 February 2017, 12:02
93
Yes you're very clear on human rights indeed, especially when your terrorist friends were eating hearts & chopping heads.
All you did was support them to the hilt with BS excuse after another
one day they wee actually FSA the next it was Assads fault etc etc.
You're nothing but a biased religious fanatic..you know nothing about human rights unless it goes against you.
07 February 2017, 13:25
44
The_wimper lies again. Just because you support the monstrosity of the Assad regime does not mean that others have lost their morals or sense of humanity like you. I have never supported that monster or defended his action (and it was an individual action and not killings on an industrial scale like the regime you support). Indeed much of the opposition and activists condemned him and his actions and demanded that he be brought to justice. And then you proceed to lie and lie and lie and I challenge you to prove one of the lies you made. You are a person with no honor and no shame.
07 February 2017, 14:12
93
you talk of honor as if you know anything about it.
You can't debate without using derogatory openings, yet you want to talk about honor?
Since you lack the basic civilized capabilities of debating, You will be treated with utter disdain you rightly deserve.
I tried debating with you in a reasonable manner but, you quickly showed your true colors,
he speaks of honor, pffft
07 February 2017, 20:02
24
As for you the_wimper. You and your side lie, lie, lie and then double down on lying. You justify and defend terrible crimes against humanity and you want to be treated with civilities. I do not have time for civility with people who accuse me of being a Salafi or supporters of Salafies ..... I tried to have civil conversation with your side but at the end one must call spade a spade. Anyone that supports the Assad regime or ISIS is beyond the pale and is a person without honour and shame.
07 February 2017, 09:15
410
yeah, "Western/Salafi propaganda" is exactly what we expected from an iranian follower of wilayat al faqih enrolled in Assad's killing machine. I guess also the missing Lebanese in Syrian jails are also a figment of some people's imagination and part of the "Western/Salafi propaganda".
07 February 2017, 09:44
414
"the_roar
You call him butcher, the majority of humanity thanks him for his unbelievable achievements in destroying your evil headchoppers, hearteaters etc."
"the_roar:
I could care less about Assad or his track record with human rights abuse etc.
Assad is an Arab dictator, which never had my support."
"the_roar:
Its funny how these Saudi lovers are questioning syria's democratic system.
Yet the whole world knows that Syria is the leader of democracy in the ME.
but hey if the shills here insist that Syria is not up to their standards when it comes to democracy, maybe they could show us an example of how a democracy should be according to any other ME country."
No Further comments your honor!
07 February 2017, 09:59
153
He is & will be remembered as the champion of the ME.
Who thought he could exterminate the plague you call friends, like Isis,nusra,qaida etc who eat peoples hearts or chop peoples heads etc
As for supporting him? hardly.
Democracy in Saudi is definitely the model you wish for right?
Syria was so lacking when compared to your love, KSA, right?
07 February 2017, 10:26
311
All what you have written the_roar is direct justification of Assad's crimes. KSA or the USA are not the subject of the article. If you believe other countries have committed crimes that does not mean you can justify the crimes committed by Assad and the militia of hezbollah. Diverting the discussion is a sure sign of a troll.
07 February 2017, 10:40
123
You're valid comment on the article provides solid evidence of no trolling on your behalf.
lol@these trolls calling part time commentators trolls!!!!
07 February 2017, 10:05
49
I have the utmost respect and admiration for Mr. the_roar for many reasons main among them is he has a life between 7 am - 7 pm, he believes assad is a dictator, and syria is the leader of democracy in the middle east.
I respect Mr. the_roar, I just do.
07 February 2017, 10:09
133
Who pulls the strings on this puppet? ice-norma-terr-galaxy-etc etc?
Please tell us so we can respect the effort it puts in day in day out.
07 February 2017, 10:20
413
Still traumatized by " ice-norma-terr-galaxy-marcus/barry-janoubi-justin-exfpm, etc" ya heretic?
07 February 2017, 10:38
112
they certainly do as do you..how is it you're all here & ready to troll everyday, every article, every post?
that is very traumatizing in the extreme
07 February 2017, 11:00
311
if you're a part time commenter how do you know @lubnani is "here & ready to troll everyday, every article, every post?"
07 February 2017, 11:20
122
Read the history dude, its there for all to see....its not some secret classified document...just check out the last week 7 see if you lot miss a day.
trolls & lurkers
07 February 2017, 11:35
39
there was a poster by the name of 'outlaw', did you also read the history on that one, or you did not feel the need since you already knew what he posted?
07 February 2017, 19:44
00
It is highly likely that the Arab League will seek protections for the Syrians at the UNSC or UNHRC. They are likely preparing a resolution condemning Assad for presentation to the UN bodies. The AL can ALWAYS be counted on to protect Arab human rights, a very fortunate fact for the many Syrians still imprisoned at Saydnaya.
07 February 2017, 19:56
01
Wow look how many trolling IDs are revived just to defend this criminal regime, the flaming moukhabarat man has been busy today.
07 February 2017, 20:57
05
hahahahaha!
Smooth like a V8 engine, Convincing like a Preacher in Sunday Church, Combative like a Samurai warrior. You have qualities rarely seen on a human.
In other words, you are somesing Anazar flamesrower!
08 February 2017, 03:19
00
God sees every injustice and he knows who supports it. Bashar and his terrorist men will not save any of the filthy puppets supporting such evil. When the justice of God comes, they will all be alone. They sold their soul for a miserable price.
Whats crazy is that these supporters of Assad know very well that opponents of the regime get tortured and that this went on long before the peaceful uprising, long before the FSA, long before isis, nusra and any other armed group. They know his dad did the same kind of things in lebanon and in Syria.
They know but they choose to belittle it now when they are allied with this human devil. Such are people without honour and without decency. They are cheap to buy. Its enough for a drug dealing rapist to praise nasrallah and they will view such a scumbag as a good man. Cheap rodents.
08 February 2017, 03:41
01
The victims of Bashar are almost entirely Lebanese, syrian, palestinian, kurd.. yet the hizbu rats have the nerve to portray him as anti-zionist.
As someone said: "Assad bi lebnen w arnab 3a israel".
"when the time is right" :) Funny how the time is always right when it comes to killing civilian syrians and lebanese who refuse to worship assad but never right to respond to the israeli army.
And funny how assad didnt send any military strength to lebanon in 2006 to fight israel but the hizbu rats go to syria to help him kill syrians. Funny how several syrians cities and towns are under rubble or beseiged while israeli cities are safe from assad and hizbu and putins harm.
08 February 2017, 07:53
01
I heard the word of the Lord and the Lord whispered in my ear you are not Christian.
