Damascus Fair: Recounting the Suffering of Prisoners Under the Assad Era

On the sidelines of the Damascus International Fair, which recently concluded, a pavilion titled 'When Walls Speak' was set up within the Syrian Ministry of Interior's section to document the era of detention centers under the former regime. Visitors encountered displays including prisoners' clothing, barbed wire from Sednaya Prison, and reconstructed cells intended to depict the realities of the Bashar al-Assad era. Abdul Majeed Jamal al-Din, the pavilion's director, stated that the goal was to convey the truth of prisoners' lives and their suffering to new generations. The exhibit featured doors from security branches, such as 'Branch 248,' inscribed with the names and notes of detainees. Torture instruments were also displayed, including metal cables, sticks known as the 'Green Ibrahim stick,' and interrogation chairs used in various security branches. Former detainees who visited the pavilion confirmed the authenticity of these tools, recounting their traumatic experiences of detention and physical torture. In an adjacent section, the Syrian Ministry of Interior presented its new approach to prison management under the slogan 'Health is a right that cannot be detained,' showcasing current facilities as rehabilitation centers that provide medical care, education, and vocational training to inmates.