Movies

CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews Surviving Syria’s Prisons: Bravery of two brothers who exposed the atrocities of Assad’s evil regime

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Surviving Syria’s Prisons (BBC2)

TV cameras have an intriguing influence on individuals. Shine a light on them, and they’ll often admit to things they would strenuously deny during a trial or police interrogation, even when facing death.

In the documentary “Surviving Syria’s Prisons” produced by This World, the torturers and jailers were filmed in a silhouette with their faces shrouded in darkness, where they recounted the frequent cruel acts they perpetrated against political prisoners.

In many instances, their testimonies seemed more about personal gain rather than truth. Each individual maintained that they had no other option but to inflict cruelty and kill. The subordinates repeatedly argued that they were merely following instructions. Superiors asserted that the soldiers under them were unruly and undisciplined, beyond control.

Regardless of their attempts to justify themselves, each confessed to engaging in sadistic acts of cruelty and levels of violence so severe that, in a global court, they would undoubtedly be given lifetime imprisonment.

Back in 2011, even Bashar al-Assad, who was later deposed, made an appearance on a U.S. talk show. During this broadcast, he tried to defend his rule by asserting that the brutal security forces operating under him were acting independently.

He clarified, “Those aren’t my troops. They are the military personnel who serve under the government.” He also emphasized, “As the President, I don’t possess the nation. I am merely its leader.

With no chin and bulging eyes reminiscent of a character penned by P.G. Wodehouse, Assad appeared unusually smug during his interview with seasoned American journalist Barbara Walters.

It’s evident that he was fulfilling a lifelong dream by gracing a renowned American TV program. The thought that millions of Americans would gain knowledge about his rule, which was characterized by mass murders, seemed like a reasonable trade-off to him.

In this movie, the boundless wickedness that emerged was countered by the exceptional courage displayed by two brothers whose efforts enabled the success of the project.

Shadi and Hadi Haroun endured years of cruel treatment within the infamous prison of Assad known as Saydnaya, due to their involvement in the Arab Spring demonstrations. They guided us through the decrepit remnants of Saydnaya, often referred to as ‘the human abattoir’, where the regime harshly dealt with anyone even remotely suspected of challenging Assad’s Ba’ath party through speech, action or thought.

On a regular basis, executions by hanging took place, not at gallows, but using a noose and a chair. Men were often brutally beaten to death by guards, and in some cases, they were buried alive. Analysis of satellite imagery suggests the presence of approximately 130 mass graves.

The Haroun brothers frequently found themselves hanging from the ceiling pipes, either next to each other or with their wrists bound together behind them, bent over in a position they referred to as ‘the ghost stance’.

It’s hard to fathom how someone could endure such treatment for all those years. Watching this for 75 minutes was a required, yet persistently disheartening experience. However, the siblings’ unwavering bond was the rare source of comfort during that time.

In a chilling recollection, I, a devoted admirer, share the harrowing tale as told by grizzled Hadi: The unbearable torment was enduring my brother’s blood-curdling screams. I would always yearn to bear the brunt of the blows instead, sparing him that agony. Indeed, a haunting nightmare.

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2025-06-11 03:04

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