AFAD President Memiş: We did not encounter any living person

Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) President Okay Memiş made statements regarding the operations at Sednaya Prison. Memiş stated that no signs of life were found inside the building at Sednaya and that no buried or interred prisoners were discovered inside.

Stating that they joined the search efforts at the request of local authorities, Memiş reported that the work in the three sections of the building was completed with 120 personnel, 4 search and rescue dogs, 43 vehicles, and technological devices and equipment. Memiş said, “Thanks to the work carried out by our expert colleagues, the building was divided into Sector A, Sector B, and Sector C.

The entire building, including all wards, cells, and administrative sections, was scanned, and as a result, no living person was found. We did not encounter any living person, nor did we find any prisoners buried or interred within the building. However, in our work, we observed tools used for inhumane treatment and tools that were subjected to inhumane treatment. We did not touch any of these,” he said.

"WE ARE CONTINUING OUR WORK IN THE COURTYARD AS WELL"

AFAD President Memiş continued his statement as follows:

“Indeed, since this place is an indicator of the inhumane Assad regime, we acted with the awareness that it is an area that could be subject to future trials in international courts. As a result, we did not encounter any living person. We checked every floor, the basement, cells, and wards one by one; we inspected every part of the building very carefully and meticulously. Along with this area, we are continuing our work in the courtyard. They have also clearly indicated on signs that there is a mined area. Therefore, we must be more careful and diligent in the work we do in this open area.”

Noting that search efforts will continue in detail after the mined area is cleared in coordination with local authorities, Memiş said, “We completed the work inside the building today. We will continue our work in this area tomorrow as well.”

REFERENCE TO THE OPPRESSIVE REGIME

“As the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish nation, we stand by our Syrian brothers and sisters. We are trying to help them during these difficult times and processes,” said the AFAD President, adding, “We have seen more than enough in this building what this oppressive regime has caused. Therefore, in these difficult times, as the Republic of Turkey and its organization responsible for international humanitarian aid, AFAD, we stand by our Syrian brothers and sisters. We have no other intention. We support their territorial integrity. We are ready to provide any assistance we can so that they can live in a fair administration where all citizens are embraced, and especially in harmony with the Turkish nation, the Turkish state, and our country. Our only intention is to be by their side in their difficult times. We did not come only for Sednaya Prison; we are also here to help them with humanitarian aid together with non-governmental organizations. Currently, our trucks are continuing to distribute humanitarian aid in Hama and Homs.”

"ACID TANKS WERE DETECTED"

Describing what they saw during the inspections, Memiş said, “There are tools and equipment you can see. There are press machines that caused people to lose their limbs. Acid tanks were detected. How these were used will be evaluated by judicial authorities in the future. There are many witnesses. There are mothers, siblings, spouses, and children here who have lost their loved ones. There are dramatic stories here. They will testify. There are still prisoners lying in hospitals. There are people here who have been subjected to inhumane treatment, lost their lives, or lost their minds,” he said.

Responding to a question from journalists regarding the mass graves found, AFAD President Memiş said, “We could not make sense of why there were so many body bags in this prison; we saw thousands of body bags scattered around. It is very thought-provoking to have so many body bags in a prison. The reason we came here is in line with the request of the local authority. They are in a transition process. Therefore, we are here at the request of the administration here, and we are trying to stand by our Syrian brothers and sisters in difficult times,” he said.