By Ahmet Karaahmet, Mehmet Burak Karacaoglu
ISTANBUL (AA) - Anadolu has documented the harrowing conditions inside Damascus’ Mezzeh Military Prison, once notorious for its inhumane treatment under Syria’s now-defunct Baath regime.
Inscriptions of Quranic verses, hand-drawn calendars, and various sketches were found etched by the prisoners onto the walls of the prison cells.
Scattered across the floors were personal items such as dolls, plates, and remnants of food, a haunting reminder of the detainees who once occupied the space.
The prison gained notoriety for its dire conditions. Reports revealed that around 700 people, including women, were held within its walls.
Cells meant for single occupants were packed with six to eight detainees, while areas designed for ten housed as many as 80 individuals.
Mahmoud Abdulbaki Mohammed, a former prisoner, described the unbearable conditions during his time in detention.
“We endured unimaginable conditions here. They didn’t treat us like human beings. Now, it feels like I’m in a dream,” Mohammed told Anadolu.
Military prisons under the Baath regime were infamous for systemic torture and abuse. Many detainees remained missing for years, their fates unknown to their families.
Following the regime's collapse on Dec. 8, thousands of prisoners were freed by anti-regime groups, bringing an end to years of silence about their plight.
*Writing by Beril Canakci