Syrian torture survivor seeks justice for abuse in regime prisons

By Zeynep Katre Oran and Aynur Seyma Asan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ahmed Hilmi, a Syrian human rights activist and survivor of the Baath regime’s prisons, is calling for justice for thousands of victims subjected to systematic torture and killings.

“I want justice, not revenge,” said Hilmi, who endured three years in the regime’s detention centers and bore witness to the atrocities inflicted on detainees during Syria’s civil war.

The collapse of the regime over the weekend and the opposition’s takeover in Syria led to the release of anti-regime prisoners held in Sednaya and other detention centers.

- ‘My mother didn’t recognize me’

Hilmi, a civil engineering student in Damascus when protests erupted in 2011, became a target after joining demonstrations.

“One day, on my way to class, I was abducted by regime forces,” he told Anadolu. “I looked at the sky to say ‘goodbye,’ because I thought it might be the last time I’d see it.”

Five months later, he was transferred to a state prison, where he was allowed a visit from his mother.

“For five months, no one knew if I was alive. When my mother saw me, she hesitated; she couldn’t recognize me. I had lost 35 kilograms, my hair had fallen out, and my appearance had completely changed,” he recounted.

His mother only identified him after he used a secret codeword they had shared. The encounter underscored the immense psychological toll on the families of detainees.

- Campaigning for survivors

After his release, Hilmi founded ‘Ta’afi’, an organization supporting torture victims.

The initiative was inspired by his best friend, Islam, who disappeared in 2011 after joining the protests.

“Islam only memorized my phone number. I kept my phone charged and on 24/7, waiting for his call. Three years later, I learned he’d been killed under torture,” Hilmi said.

Initially aimed at uncovering Islam’s fate, ‘Ta’afi’ has since evolved into a platform aiding hundreds of survivors in their fight for justice.

- Sednaya: 'Dante’s Inferno'

Hilmi described Sednaya Prison, notorious for its brutal conditions, as comparable to the circles of hell in Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy.

“There are no windows, no fresh air, and the fluorescent lights are on 24/7, making it impossible to tell night from day,” he said.

Prisoners were crammed into overcrowded cells, deprived of toilets or water, and given minimal food. Many succumbed to starvation, untreated illnesses, or poor hygiene, he added.

“This is only 10% of the suffering that occurs in Syrian prisons,” Hilmi said.

- The Caesar photos

Hilmi emphasized the significance of the ‘Caesar photos’, taken by a military photographer codenamed ‘Caesar,’ which document the torture and deaths of detainees under the regime, serving as crucial evidence of war crimes.

“These photos are the only visual evidence of what happened in the prisons,” he said, noting that the images, taken between 2011 and 2013, expose scars of torture and the effects of inhumane conditions.

“Some didn’t die from beatings but from the complete absence of sunlight, air, or basic care,” he said.

- A call for accountability

Hilmi expressed disappointment with the international community, criticizing its failure to take decisive action against the Assad regime.

“In Syria, the judiciary, the police, and the perpetrators were all the same. There was no justice system,” he said.

“The international system is weak and corrupt. Justice must prevail for these crimes against humanity,” Hilmi concluded.