Detainee tortured to death in Saydnaya prison
DARAA, Syria (North Press) – A detainee from the town of Tafas in Daraa Governorate in southern Syria was tortured to death in Saydnaya prison after five years of detention, a local source said on Thursday.
The parents of Ali al-Mibasbas, who was killed under torture in Saydnaya prison in Rif Dimashq, received his certificate of death and his personal documentations from the Civil Affairs Directorate of the Syrian government, the source told North Press.
The infamous Saydnaya Prison is located 30 kilometers north of Damascus. The prison is affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Defense and is run by the Military Police. It has gained a bad reputation after guards in the prison used excessive force against some detainees who staged a revolt in 2008. The prison is comprised of two buildings and can take between 10,000 and 20,000 prisoners.
Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2011, the prison has become the final destination for the those who oppose the government whether civilians or military members.
Al-Mibasbas’ parents used to visit their sons frequently but a while before his death they were banned from visiting him under the pretext of receiving treatment, the source added.
The source pointed out that al-Mibasbas had defected from the Syrian government forces at the beginning of the protests in 2011, however, he turned himself to the government forces in 2018 to settle his status as a response to an amnesty decree issued by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
In July 2018, the opposition armed factions and Syrian the government forces reached a ceasefire agreement mediated by Russia in the opposition-held areas in Daraa. Under the deal, the opposition armed factions agreed to hand over their weapons in exchange for staying in Daraa, and those who opposed the agreement they were sent to Idlib, which is under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front).