How Did Assad Respond When Shown Photos of Sednaya Prison Victims? (Watch)

The harrowing scenes emerging from Sednaya Prison and other Syrian regime detention centers shocked the world, revealing thousands of detainees in appalling conditions.

The images of freed detainees, some of whom lost their memory or mental faculties, brought back to the spotlight the infamous statements of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who categorically denied the existence of torture in these facilities.

In February 2017, during an interview with an American journalist from Yahoo News, Assad was confronted with questions and evidence of torture and human rights abuses in Sednaya. His responses, which ranged from outright denial to attempts to deflect the conversation, remain a stark example of his evasion tactics.

The Exchange Between Assad and the Journalist

The following is the dialogue between the journalist and Assad regarding human rights violations and Sednaya Prison:

Journalist: I was asking earlier about the potential cooperation between the United States and Syria. But for many, the issue lies in the continuous allegations of human rights abuses by your government. Just today, Amnesty International released a report on Sednaya Prison, or what they call the “Human Slaughterhouse,” where between 5,000 and 13,000 people were reportedly executed in mass hangings. The report describes horrifying conditions, such as blindfolded prisoners being tried in one-to-three-minute trials without lawyers. These trials contradict every aspect of international law. What do you know about what is happening in that prison?

Assad: Let’s start with the first part of your question, about how the United States can build relations with Syria despite allegations of human rights violations. I’ll ask you this: How can the U.S. maintain such close and intimate relations with Saudi Arabia? Do you consider beheadings to be a standard for human rights?

Journalist: But I’m not interviewing the King of Saudi Arabia. I’m interviewing you.

Assad: Yes, I know that, of course.

Journalist: I’m asking about reports of human rights abuses in your prisons, in your country.

Assad: You ask the questions, and I give the answers. That’s my answer. When you address the issue of Saudi Arabia, you can ask about this subject. Secondly, the U.S. is not in a position to talk about human rights. From the Vietnam War to this moment, they have killed millions of civilians—not to mention the 1.5 million Iraqis they killed without any UN mandate. So, the U.S. is not in a position to say, “We won’t engage because of human rights.” And they should use one standard.

Journalist: And the second part of my question, regarding the Amnesty International report?

Assad: Like many other reports published by Amnesty International, this report casts doubt on the organization’s credibility. We never consider it neutral. It is always biased and politicized. It’s disgraceful that such an organization would publish a report without any evidence at all. They claimed it was based on interviews.

Journalist: What about documents? What about tangible evidence?

Assad: There is no tangible evidence.

Journalist: The report includes interviews with four prison guards, prison officials, three former Syrian judges, and three doctors.

Assad: That means nothing.

Journalist: It means nothing?

Assad: These are just interviews. To produce a report, you need to provide concrete evidence. Anyone can pay for a report, as Qatar did last year when they funded the preparation of such a report. They brought their witnesses and created the report.

Journalist: I’d like to read you something from the report: “The hangings were authorized by officials at the highest levels of the government, with execution approvals given by either the Syrian Grand Mufti, the Minister of Defense, or the Chief of Staff, acting on behalf of President Bashar al-Assad.”

Assad: First, where’s the evidence for this? Secondly—

Journalist: Is this true or not?

Assad: No, it’s absolutely not true.

Journalist: How do you know this? Do you know what happens in that prison? Have you ever been there?

Assad: No, I’ve never been there. I’ve been in the presidential palace, not in the prison.

Journalist: That’s precisely my point. The report is deeply troubling and highlights what’s allegedly happening in one of your prisons. Will you investigate this?

Assad: So, Amnesty International knows more about Syria than I do? According to what you’re saying, no, that’s not true. They’ve never been to Syria. Their reports are based on allegations. They can bring anyone, regardless of their identity. You can fabricate anything these days; we live in an era of fake news, as you know, and everyone knows this. So, we shouldn’t rely on this. Secondly, you should speak about reality. They said in their report that we carried out a series of executions. Is this true?

Journalist: Yes, mass hangings.

Assad: First of all, executions are part of Syrian law. If the Syrian government or any Syrian institution wants to execute someone, they can do it legally because it’s been in the law for decades.

Journalist: Secret trials without lawyers?

Assad: Why would they need secrecy if they can do it legally? They don’t need to do it in secret.

Journalist: Is that legal in your country?

Assad: Yes, of course. It’s been legal for decades, since independence. Executions, according to law, after a trial, are legal, just as in any court in many other countries in the region.

Journalist: Would you allow international observers to visit that prison and verify these reports?

Assad: That depends on the credibility of the organization in question, not just any organization. They can use such visits to demonize the Syrian government even further, as is happening now.

The Role of Photographic Evidence

The journalist also presented Assad with images of tortured and emaciated detainees, referencing 50,000 photos taken by a former government photographer. The photos, which were verified by numerous legal experts, depicted severe human rights violations.

When shown these photos, Assad dismissed them as possible fabrications:

“Who verified these photos? Who confirmed that they weren’t manipulated using Photoshop?”

Despite the journalist’s persistence, Assad denied the credibility of the images and claimed they were unverifiable.

Conclusion

The interview highlights Bashar al-Assad’s denial of the well-documented atrocities in Sednaya Prison and other Syrian detention centers. Despite mounting evidence from organizations like Amnesty International and testimonies from survivors, Assad consistently dismissed allegations as fabrications or politically motivated claims. His refusal to acknowledge or investigate these violations raises significant concerns about accountability and justice for the thousands of victims who suffered under his regime.

Click here to watch the full video