The report titled “Web of Pain: In the Syrian Arabian Republic of Arbitral December, torture, and bad behavior” interviewed more than 2,000 eyewitnesses, of which more than 550 people survived torture.
After the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024, the prisoners were released from torture. After the start of the civil war in Syria in the 21st, the first country caretaker government allowed the Investigation Commission to go there.
In December and January, the two commission parties visited the detention centers and mass graves, including the Sedivia Jail in the capital Damascus, where there were widespread allegations of detaining the prisoners in very inhuman state.
The Commission believes that most of the evidence and documents of this detention center have been burned or destroyed, but some evidence still remains.
It is described as the most extensive analysis of human rights violations at the former government’s detention center, which inherit the inheritance of mourning and deep distress.
According to the report, during violent conflict in Syria, the worst events of international law violations were planned, which could be classified as crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Inhuman behavior
According to the report, during the reign of the former government, security agencies tortured prisoners, including men and women, boys and girls and treat them cruel, humiliating and inhumane.
They were beaten, electric shock were given, burned, nail pulled out, rape and sexual abuse were carried out. In addition, they were kept in a painful position for a long time and were deprived of their medical care when needed.
The victims and eyewitnesses of these cases told the Investigation Commission that prisoners of wounds, malnutrition and diseases were gradually died or killed due to torture.
The supply of food materials was low or was polluted. Drinking water and suitable clothing were lacking and often prisoners did not have enough space to sleep. He had to sleep on the cold floor with a blanket. There have also been incidents in the joint room of the jail for several days.
‘Important milestone’
The head of the commission, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, says we are standing at an important level. Syria’s interim government and future administration can ensure that this crime will not be repeated.
“We hope that these results, based on our almost 14 -year investigation, will end the liberation in the case of this abuse.”
According to the Commission, despite the fall of the former rule in December, it is a difficult time for thousands of families who are unable to get any information about their missing relatives. The founding of the mass grave has raised the family concerns about their missing relatives.
The report emphasizes that urgent steps need to be taken to protect the evidence, archive and crime scenes, so that they can be examined by experts.
The Investigation Commission plans to investigate more deeply in the coming days, in which the crime scene is visited and talking to the victims.