Syria's prisons reveal widespread torture and human rights abuses under Assad's regime

Bashar al-Assad's regime operated over 100 detention facilities in Syria, where widespread torture occurred. Recent opposition offensives have freed thousands from these prisons, revealing horrific conditions and the existence of secret facilities still holding detainees. Human rights groups report that around 157,634 Syrians were arrested since 2011, including thousands of children and women. Many detainees faced brutal torture methods, leading to deaths and mass graves, with Amnesty International labeling Sednaya Prison a "slaughterhouse." Efforts continue to locate remaining prisoners, with groups like the White Helmets offering rewards for information on secret prisons. Rebels have released many detainees, including women and children, but countless others remain trapped in underground facilities.