Syrian rebels have freed prisoners — including toddlers — from a notorious, jam-packed prison dubbed the “human slaughterhouse,” where the Assad regime allegedly used an “iron press’’ to pulverize bodies.
The Saydnaya military prison just outside Damascus was emptied by insurgents over the weekend as the rebels took over the Syrian capital and forced dictator Bashar al-Assad to flee the country for Moscow.
Videos on social media showed haggard inmates in tattered clothes screaming in celebration when the rebel troops told them they were being freed from the infamous jail, where the Assad regime tortured and executed its political enemies.
The dramatic scenes from Saydnaya Prison highlight the harrowing conditions inmates endured under Assad’s regime. Dubbed the “human slaughterhouse” by survivors, the prison was notorious for its brutal torture methods, including the alleged use of an “iron press” to crush bodies. The liberation marks a significant moment in Syria’s tumultuous civil war, as opposition forces seize control of key government strongholds. Rebel leaders vowed to dismantle oppressive institutions and seek justice for years of atrocities committed against political detainees.
