The fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria has uncovered horrific sites like Sednaya Prison, where thousands of people were tortured, maimed, and killed over the last 40 years. The discovery of an underground dungeon within Sednaya prison on December 8 has revealed that more than 100,000 political prisoners remain trapped, many in horrific conditions. The "red prisons," built in 1987, are notorious for their inhumane treatment of detainees, who were subjected to torture, sexual violence, and starvation.

The prison's subterranean cells, devoid of light or ventilation, have left many detainees on the brink of death, with urgent calls to rescue them growing louder. The White Helmets and local authorities have mobilized specialized teams to break through concrete layers and reach those trapped. However, a complex electronic locking system is hindering progress, leaving over 100,000 prisoners still imprisoned, despite being visible on CCTV monitors.

Sednaya's gruesome history has earned it the nickname "Human Slaughterhouse" due to its systematic use as a site for executions and torture. Amnesty International labeled it a "human slaughterhouse," and reports estimate over 30,000 deaths from 2011 to 2018 due to executions, starvation, and lack of medical care. Former detainees have shared harrowing accounts of severe abuse, including sexual assault and forced pregnancies, with many children born in captivity knowing no world outside its walls.

Efforts to free these prisoners continue, but the path to uncovering all of Sednaya’s dark secrets remains fraught with challenges.