Searches at 'human slaughterhouse' Sednaya Prison have concluded

A historic turning point occurred in Syria on Sunday morning. As opposition forces entered Damascus and declared the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, thousands of Syrians flocked to Sednaya Prison, where their relatives had allegedly been imprisoned for years.

People attempting to reach this military prison, which has a capacity of approximately 150 thousand, formed queues kilometers long.

As efforts were made to breach the barricades around the prison, the desperation and hope of the people were captured on camera.

'HUMAN SLAUGHTERHOUSE' SEDNAYA PRISON

Footage shared by those who entered Sednaya Prison revealed the horrific living conditions inside. Some of the released prisoners were notable for signs of starvation and torture, and the scene inside confirmed the description of a "human slaughterhouse."

However, families hoping to find their long-lost relatives experienced great disappointment. Many believed that prisoners were being held in secret and locked areas. The White Helmets teams, despite scanning the entire complex with the help of dogs, announced that no secret areas or prisoners were found.

ASSAD'S MISSING VICTIMS STILL CANNOT BE FOUND

The Association of Detainees and The Missing in Sednaya Prison continues to express concerns regarding the fate of more than 110 thousand people who disappeared at the hands of the regime. According to data from the Syrian Network for Human Rights, more than 15 thousand people have been killed by torture since the civil war began in 2011.

Meanwhile, opposition forces announced that they had found approximately 40 bodies bearing signs of torture in a hospital belonging to the regime. It was claimed that the bodies were transferred to another hospital for identification and that they might be among the prisoners held at Sednaya.

WAR CRIMINALS LIST PREPARED

The opposition group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) announced that they have prepared a list of former Syrian officers and officials involved in torture and human rights violations. HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani stated that they would work to ensure these individuals are tried as war criminals and announced that they would offer rewards to those who provide information.

Sednaya Prison is one of the most brutal symbols of the Assad family's decades-long rule. Bashar al-Assad used Sednaya as a systematic tool of oppression against dissidents during the administration he inherited from his father, Hafez al-Assad. The horrific conditions and torture practices in the prison had been met with widespread outrage.