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Prison walls reveal last messages of Assad's detainees
Often mysterious, the graffiti preserves fragments of what the anonymous inmates were thinking as they faced torture and death.
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Inside Syria's infamous prisons once controlled by Bashar al-Assad, haunting graffiti etched by tormented inmates bears witness to their anguish, defiance, and love.
These scrawled messages and drawings, discovered after insurgents overthrew Assad's regime in December, offer a glimpse into the minds of detainees who endured unimaginable suffering.
A view of the cells gallery of the infamous Saydnaya military prison on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday Jan. 12, 2025. Since 2011, tens of thousands of Syrians vanished inside the network of prisons... A view of the cells gallery of the infamous Saydnaya military prison on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Sunday Jan. 12, 2025. Since 2011, tens of thousands of Syrians vanished inside the network of prisons and detention facilities run by Assad’s security forces as they tried to crush his opposition. Mosa'ab Elshamy/AP PhotoSince 2011, Assad's prisons have been synonymous with brutality. Tens of thousands vanished into a network of detention centers, facing torture, overcrowding, and mass executions.
These messages, carved into cell walls, are one of the few tangible remnants of the lives lost or forever scarred within. They humanize the victims and preserve fragments of a history often shrouded in silence.
Expressions of Pain and Love A graffiti in Arabic on the wall of a prison cell reads "Don't be sad, mother. This is my fate" in the infamous Palestine Branch detention facility, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. Inmates... A graffiti in Arabic on the wall of a prison cell reads "Don't be sad, mother. This is my fate" in the infamous Palestine Branch detention facility, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. Inmates went for years without contact with the outside world, living in overcrowded, windowless cells where their cellmates died around them. Mosa'ab Elshamy/AP PhotoMany inscriptions reflect longing and despair. One prisoner wrote, "I miss you," a love letter to an unknown recipient. Another left behind the message, "Don't be sad, mother. This is my fate," dated January 1, 2024. Layers of graffiti reveal generations of suffering, with older texts barely legible beneath newer ones.
Poetry and Prayers A graffiti in Arabic on the wall of a prison cell reads "Patience is beautiful, and God the one from whom we seek help," and "God, fill me with me patience and don't let me... A graffiti in Arabic on the wall of a prison cell reads "Patience is beautiful, and God the one from whom we seek help," and "God, fill me with me patience and don't let me despair." in the infamous Palestine Branch detention facility, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. Mosa'ab Elshamy/AP PhotoSome inmates turned to poetry, quoting verses like, "When you wage your wars, think of those who ask for peace," a line misremembered from Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. Others left prayers, such as "Oh Lord, bring relief" and "Patience is beautiful, and God the one from whom we seek help."
Survival Through Creativity A graffiti in Arabic on the wall of a prison cell reads "Hashish" in the infamous Palestine Branch detention facility, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. Most inmates would have fully expected to die.... A graffiti in Arabic on the wall of a prison cell reads "Hashish" in the infamous Palestine Branch detention facility, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. Most inmates would have fully expected to die. The prisoners had no reason to believe anyone would ever see the messages they scratched into the walls except future prisoners. Mosa'ab Elshamy/AP PhotoDespite the horrors, some graffiti exhibit a dark humor or whimsy. Cartoon faces, a joint of hashish, or an imagined landscape of hills and wolves offer glimpses of inmates' attempts to escape mentally from their grim reality. Others meticulously marked time, drawing calendars filled with rows of dots and noting milestones like, "A year passed."
Legacy of Assad's Prisons A graffiti on the wall of a prison cell in the infamous Palestine Branch detention facility, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. Often mysterious, the graffiti preserves fragments of what anonymous men were thinking... A graffiti on the wall of a prison cell in the infamous Palestine Branch detention facility, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. Often mysterious, the graffiti preserves fragments of what anonymous men were thinking as they faced torture and death. Mosa'ab Elshamy/AP PhotoThe Palestine Branch detention facility in Damascus was infamous for its cruelty. Prisoners lived in windowless cells, often witnessing the deaths of their cellmates. Most detainees expected to die, with no hope their messages would ever be seen. Yet, the graffiti remains, a testament to their resilience and humanity amid systematic oppression.
Sobering Reminders A graffiti in Arabic on the wall of a prison cell reads "This time shall pass" in the infamous Palestine Branch detention facility, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. Nothing can be known about... A graffiti in Arabic on the wall of a prison cell reads "This time shall pass" in the infamous Palestine Branch detention facility, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. Nothing can be known about the men who drew and wrote the graffiti. Only a few bear names, and few are dated. Mosa'ab Elsham/AP PhotoThe graffiti stand as evidence of the atrocities committed in Assad's prisons, providing a sobering reminder of the human cost of Syria's conflict. Their preservation may play a role in ensuring the stories of these prisoners are not forgotten. Advocates stress the importance of justice and accountability for these crimes, as well as support for survivors and their families.
Newsweek has reached out to photographer Mosa'ab Elshamy for comment via X.
This is article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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