Syrian rebel leader plans to turn Assad’s Saydnaya prison into museum

Syrian rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has revealed plans to establish a museum on the grounds of Saydnaya prison, the largest detention facility located in the Damascus suburb.

In a statement, al-Sharaa emphasized the need for justice for all those involved in the torture of prisoners, asserting that they would be held accountable and brought to justice, Caliber.Az reports citing Turkish media.

Since the armed opposition took control of Damascus, thousands of prisoners have been released from various prisons across the country. Al-Sharaa noted that many of those imprisoned were held without legal grounds and had been subjected to beatings and torture.

"We are gathering evidence from these prisons to ensure that Assad is tried in international courts. We are also working to identify the individuals responsible for torturing prisoners in Saydnaya, and they will face trial," al-Sharaa stated. "We will invite international human rights organizations and officials from the International Criminal Court to visit."

He also shared his views for the prison’s future, saying, "We want to turn this place into a museum in the future."

Saydnaya, located northeast of the Syrian capital, is notorious for its size and the widespread human rights abuses committed within its walls. In recent days, thousands of Syrians have gathered at the prison, hoping to receive information about their missing relatives.

By Vafa Guliyeva