A notorious prison in Syria known as “Palestine Branch” has been exposed after opposition forces freed hundreds of prisoners during the regime’s collapse in December 2024. Established in 1969, the intelligence-run prison was infamous for its systematic torture and inhumane conditions.
During the early stages of the Syrian revolution, Palestine Branch targeted residents of southern Damascus, particularly those from the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp. The prison was notorious for its brutal methods, including beatings, insults, and denial of basic human rights.
Former prisoners described the harsh conditions, including cameras in every cell and toilets where guards would take detainees daily. Abu Jaber, who spent two days recovering from a beating, said he avoided the area even after his release.
The prison’s basement is now inaccessible due to a malfunctioning sewage system, but remnants of its dark past remain, including drawings on the walls carved by detainees with fingernails or any other available material. The discovery of Palestine Branch highlights the atrocities committed during Syria’s civil war and sheds light on the regime’s brutality.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2025/1/6/inside-syrias-notorious-palestine-branch-tales-of-torture-and-fear