Syrian political prisoner released after decades seeks justice

A Syrian political prisoner who spent decades in prison has now been released, and is looking for justice following the ouster of former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, Al-Monitor via AFP reported on June 4th.

Ragheed Tatari, who was 26 when he was arrested, had been handed a life sentence. Tatari was one of many prisoners who were freed when Assad was ousted on December 8th.

Tatari was among several army officers who resisted Syria’s entry into Lebanon in 1976. He also opposed the brutal crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood in the early 1980s. Tatari declared: “Many of us were against involving the army in political operations.”

The 70-year-old, who says he “came close to death under torture” has emphasised that “everyone must be held accountable for their crimes”. But the former detainee also said he does not want revenge.

Tatari stated in jail any “guard could kill a prisoner if he was displeased with him.” He added that tortured detainees were forced to say phrases like “Hafez al-Assad is your god,” which he refused.

His wife has passed away and their son escaped Syria after receiving threats during the early phase of the uprising. The uprising escalated into war and ultimately resulted in Assad’s removal.

Co-founder of the Association of Detainees and Missing Persons of Saydnaya Prison and rights activist, Diab Serriya made a statement. He stated Tatari was “the longest-serving political prisoner in Syria and the Middle East.”

Amnesty International labelled the infamous Saydnaya prison near Damascus a “human slaughterhouse.”

The Assad family’s regime imprisoned over two million Syrians, says the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor. Half of the prisoners were detained after 2011 protests against the government turned into a civil war. The monitor reports roughly 200,000 died while in detention. Syria’s brutal crackdown extended beyond prisons, prompting deadly clashes across the country.

A report, released by a Swedish-rights group documented humanitarian harm and international law violations of Syria. Activists called on the International Criminal Court to investigate Syria’s new leadership or civilian killing. The report was sent to the ICC, the UN, and several rights organizations, Maghrebi reported on March 27th.

According to the data, over 1,000 people died in western Syria during violent clashes. Militias linked to Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham carried out “summary executions” of Alawite civilians in coastal regions. These areas are home to the Shi’a-affiliated Alawite community. The violence targeted the group in retaliation for its support of ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad.

Al-Monitor via AFP, Maghrebi