In the chaos of Syria’s civil war, few places became as infamous as Saydnaya Prison.
Known as a site of unimaginable suffering, its name became synonymous with brutality.
For years, human rights groups documented torture and executions there, calling it a "human slaughterhouse." Now, as rebel forces sweep across Syria, liberating prisons, new revelations are coming to light.
The White Helmets, a Syrian civil defense group, are investigating reports of hidden underground cells at Saydnaya.
Survivors claim that detainees are still trapped there, held behind locked electronic doors, according to Digi24.
Damascus authorities have appealed to former guards for access codes to free over 100,000 prisoners reportedly visible on CCTV monitors.
Reveal Secret Cells
Videos circulating online show rescue efforts. In one, rebels break through a wall to reveal a dark, enclosed space. Another shows prisoners emerging, including a child held with his mother.
The sight of people finally being freed offers a haunting reminder of the suffering endured within Saydnaya’s walls.
The prison became a symbol of Assad’s regime. Groups like Amnesty International and ADMSP documented its horrors, reporting tens of thousands of deaths from torture, starvation, and neglect.
Many detainees were political prisoners, accused of opposing the government.
Amnesty once called it a “human slaughterhouse,” alleging mass executions approved by Assad himself. The Syrian government denied these claims, insisting that due process was followed.
Rebel forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have now declared the "end of tyranny" at Saydnaya. This follows their liberation of over 3,500 detainees from Homs.
As they push further into Damascus, more accounts of abuse are surfacing. For many families, these breakthroughs bring long-awaited answers about missing loved ones.
