Secret Underground Prison Linked to Assad Regime Discovered in Syria

According to SANA, Syria’s official news agency, Deputy Police Chief Omar al-Mousa, who is stationed in the Al-Mahrem area in eastern Homs countryside, stated that the prison was discovered about 10 days ago during police patrols searching suspicious sites in the region.

Prison Details and Torture Instruments

Al-Mousa described the prison as a closed, iron-gated underground shelter, containing items such as sponge mattresses, wool blankets, as well as sticks and ropes believed to be used for torture. The site also held books and publications associated with militias supported by the ousted regime. He added that the facility is connected to a tunnel 5 meters deep and 40 meters long.

Previous Discoveries and Legal Implications

This is not the first secret prison found in Homs. On September 24, security forces also discovered another underground detention site near the village of Abu Hakfe, used by the former regime to hold civilians.

The uncovering of such secret prisons provides additional concrete evidence of the practices carried out by the Assad regime during the revolution. These findings support claims by opposition groups and revolutionaries about the existence of unofficial clandestine detention centers and add credibility to efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.

The new Syrian administration has repeatedly emphasized that holding accountable those responsible for crimes committed under the former regime is a top priority. On December 8, 2024, opposition groups in Syria seized control of Damascus, ending the 53-year rule of the Assad family.