Additional Coverage:
- Syrians search notorious Assad jail for underground cells while freed prisoners rejoice (nbcnews.com)
Syrians Celebrate Assad’s Fall, Prisoners Freed
Syrians rejoiced as President Bashar al-Assad fled the country, and thousands of detainees were freed from notorious prisons. Families and rescuers searched for those still missing.
Prison Conditions Revealed
Prisoners released from Saydnaya prison near Damascus described horrific conditions. Human rights groups had long condemned the torture and abuse in Assad’s prisons.
Rescue Teams Search for Underground Cells
Rescue teams searched for hidden underground cells where detainees were believed to be held. The White Helmets rescue organization deployed specialized teams to locate and free prisoners.
Prisoner’s Miraculous Return
One Syrian family’s joy was bittersweet as they learned that their loved one, thought to be killed, had been imprisoned all along. The prisoner emerged from his cell emaciated but alive.
Missing Persons Investigation
Amnesty International estimates that tens of thousands of people have been forcibly disappeared in Syria. Assad’s overthrow may finally allow families to discover the fate of their missing loved ones.