Inmates in Syria's infamous Sednaya Prison, sometimes known as the "Human Slaughterhouse," suffered unspeakable atrocities, such as being made to lick their own blood off the ground and sexually assaulting other prisoners. Not far from Damascus, Sednaya gained notoriety for the systematic killing, starvation, and torture of captives, many of whom were political prisoners.
 
Torture, humiliation, and forced violence
In their terrifying stories, Sednaya Prison survivors describe a place where inmates are intended to be humiliated, degraded, and eventually killed. These inmates frequently suffered from rape, harsh beatings, and physical torture at the hands of prison personnel. As part of their torture, prisoners were even forced to rape other people in certain cases. The horrific circumstances within the jail were highlighted in a report by Amnesty International. Injured inmates' blood and pus were said to blanket cell floors, and guards reportedly picked up dead bodies every morning. The misery was exacerbated by the shortage of food, water, and medical attention. When meals were served, they were frequently strewn all over the cell floors and mixed with the bodily fluids of the dead and injured, forcing inmates to consume the gory leftovers.
Sadistic rules at Sednaya prison
Strict and cruel regulations were part of the prison's cruel regime. Every time a guard entered a prisoner's cell, they had to be totally still and silent. Death was one of the worst penalties for any transgression. The Deputy director for Research at Amnesty International's Beirut office, lynn Maalouf, stated that "the horrors inside Sednaya were authorized at the highest levels of the Syrian government, intended to destroy any form of dissent." Systematic deprivation was inflicted on the prisoners. There was no medical attention, and food and water were denied. Survivors have reported experiencing sexual assault, wire burns, and baton beatings, among other forms of torture. Some prisoners endured excruciating bodily mutilation, while others had their fingernails torn off.
International outcry and calls for justice
The extensive abuses carried out in Sednaya and other detention facilities have been denounced by human rights organizations such as Human Rights watch and Amnesty International. The Syrian government, led by Bashar al-Assad, has approved these murders and tortures, which have been labeled war crimes and crimes against humanity. "The Syrian authorities must cease extrajudicial executions and inhuman treatment immediately," Maalouf stated. "Russia and Iran, as Assad's closest allies, must press for an end to these murderous detention policies."