Detainee tortured to death in HTS prison in Syria’s Idlib
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – On Monday, a detainee died in a prison run by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) in the city of Idlib, northwestern Syria, after sustaining six months of torture during his detention.
An official at an HTS prison told North Press that the detainee, Ali Jamil Bahaa, 36, passed away in the investigation department of Prison 107, which is operated by the HTS-linked General Security Service (GSS), due to repeated electric shocks during his interrogation.
The source noted that the HTS had arrested the deceased in April 2022 from his home in the town of Atmeh, north of the city of Idlib, on charges of collaborating with foreign entities, adding that he was an IDP from the city of Hama.
He said that the GSS has prohibited the detainee’s relatives from visiting him or appointing a lawyer during his detention, citing the confidentiality of the investigation.
Meanwhile, a medical source from the Idlib National Hospital informed North Press that “the body of the detainee arrived today at the autopsy department of the hospital, showing signs of torture and bruises on many areas.”
The medical source added that the HTS is now trying to compel the hospital staff to prepare a medical report stating that the cause of the detainee’s death was due to a heart attack.