A new documentary hears from the individuals who induced it out of Assads prisons and their gruesome quest to recognize others who have died in custody
I still recollect their last word to me: Please dont forget us. This resounds in my ears every day like church buzzers, like a daily call for prayer.
Mansour al-Omari, a Syrian human rights activist, recalls the moment his name was called by the jailer after investing nine months in detention. He was lucky to be liberated, but is haunted by those he left behind.
Conditions in the Syrian government detention centres are hellish. Detainees describe being held in overcrowded cells, suffering from malnutrition and regular physical and psychological insult. Thousands have died under torture, or due to the hostile conditions and forget. And many former detainees, ones I have interviewed for the movie Syrias Faded: The Case Against Assad, harbour survivors guilt.
Mazen Alhummada, a leftwing activist and employee of an petroleum company who was detained for 18 months, told us: When we were imprisoned, we promised one another that if one of us get out we would tell the world what was happening inside. I am determined to uncover this government, just as we agreed. Its my duty to the people who are still there. Mansour echoed this: It is always a remedy to my souls soreness to aid those who are still underground.