The discovery of tortured bodies in a Syrian military hospital morgue highlights the ongoing and grim reality of human rights violations in the country.
At a Glance
- Syrian rebels unearthed about 40 bodies in a Damascus military hospital, showing signs of torture.
- The Harasta Hospital served as a key point for processing detainee bodies.
- The discovery underscores the systematic human rights violations in Syria.
- Efforts involve working with the Syrian Red Crescent to help identify missing relatives.
Distressing Discovery at Harasta Hospital
Syrian rebels accessed the Harasta military hospital near Damascus, revealing around 40 bodies. These corpses, found in body bags bearing numbers and names, exhibited gruesome signs of torture. This haunting discovery echoes human rights violations reminiscent of the infamous Saydnaya prison, notorious for its harsh conditions and systemic torture.
“I opened the door of the morgue with my own hands, it was a horrific sight: about 40 bodies were piled up showing signs of gruesome torture,” stated Mohammed al-Hajj, emphasizing the brutality experienced by detainees.
Supporting Evidence and Historical Context
The plight of detainees in Syrian government custody is further substantiated by the Caesar photographs, smuggled out by a defector. These images reveal evidence of torture, starvation, and disease affecting over 6,786 detainees.
“Just about every detainee in these photographs was someone’s beloved child, husband, father, or friend, and his friends and family spent months or years searching for him,” said Nadim Houry, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.
Former detainees described the harsh conditions within detention centers, including overcrowding, lack of food, and inadequate medical care. Such accounts highlight the widespread and systemic nature of the human rights abuses occurring in Syria.
Efforts Towards Accountability
The Syrian Red Crescent played a crucial role in transporting these bodies to a Damascus hospital, facilitating family identification efforts. The findings have spurred international calls for accountability and access to Syrian detention centers.
“We informed the military command of what we found and coordinated with the Syrian Red Crescent, which transported the bodies to a Damascus hospital, so that families can come and identify them,” Mohammed al-Hajj explained.
The urgency of halting these crimes is further underscored by various human rights organizations, emphasizing the need for Russia and Iran to press the Syrian government for access to these notorious detention facilities.
