Body of Syrian Activist Mazen al-Hamada Found in Notorious Syrian Prison

The body of Mazen al-Hamada, a Syrian activist who had applied for asylum in the Netherlands, has been found in the notorious Sednaya military prison near Damascus. Al-Hamada disappeared from the Netherlands in February 2020 and was subsequently arrested by the Syrian secret service upon his mysterious return to Damascus.

Al-Hamada was a prominent figure in the campaign against the Assad regime, having been arrested and tortured in Syria in 2011. He spent over 18 months in prison before fleeing to the Netherlands, where he testified about the physical, mental, and sexual torture he endured. His return to Damascus in 2020 was under unclear circumstances, with his family believing he was abducted by the Assad regime.

The Sednaya military prison, often referred to as the “human slaughterhouse,” was known for its brutal treatment of political prisoners. Al-Hamada’s body was identified through photos seen by his family, who are “90 percent certain” it is him. The family reported that the body appeared to have been dead for about a week and a half.

The discovery of al-Hamada’s body comes as stories are emerging from Syria following the fall of the Assad regime. Other prisoners, including women and children, have been found in various prisons around Damascus, highlighting the widespread human rights abuses under the former regime).