Syrian intelligence files reveal torture, child interrogations under Assad regime
The Assad regime’s devotion to rigid bureaucracy and record-keeping left plenty of evidence. (John Beck for The Sunday Times)
Thousands of secret Syrian intelligence documents analyzed by The Sunday Times have exposed the extensive and oppressive surveillance operations conducted under the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Among the findings are reports of routine torture, exhaustive surveillance of ordinary citizens, and even the interrogation of a 12-year-old child over a trivial classroom incident.
A surveillance state
The surveillance reports, retrieved from intelligence bases in the city of Homs include trivial yet invasive details such as the location where a suspect’s mother had her car repaired or the frequency of family visits by another suspect.
The regime’s intelligence apparatus employed wiretapping, cyber surveillance, and direct monitoring of citizens, creating a suffocating atmosphere of fear and suspicion.
Widespread use of torture and isolation
Evidence within the documents reveals systematic torture inflicted on detainees even before their arrival at prisons. Prisoners were routinely subjected to physical violence, solitary confinement, and coercive interrogation methods.
One former detainee, Rasheed al-Abrash, described how prisoners’ sentences could be increased or decreased based on how many names they disclosed under duress.
Interrogating a 12-year-old child
One particularly shocking revelation from the documents details the interrogation of a 12-year-old boy.
The child was accused of tearing up a piece of paper bearing Assad’s image in his classroom — an act reported by his teacher. Despite the child and his family being cleared of anti-regime activities, the boy was still brought to trial after four days of interrogation.
“The teacher was brought in for interrogation, and confirmed that he was told about the torn paper by other students in the classroom. When he asked the boy about it, the boy claimed that he had torn up the paper without noticing the picture of the president. The teacher confirmed to us that the student is quiet with good manners and had never previously displayed negative behaviour. We ran a security check on his family background and it transpired that they were not involved in any activities related to the ongoing events in the country.”
The boy, the report notes, told interrogators: “He didn’t have bad intentions and didn’t intend to offend anyone.”
No escape even after release
The documents indicate that surveillance continued even after detainees were released. Many former prisoners were rearrested on identical charges or remained under constant monitoring.
Some did not survive their imprisonment, with evidence suggesting deaths resulting from torture.
The birds: A network of informants
The documents also describe an extensive network of informants, referred to as “the birds” by citizens. These informants infiltrated families, social circles, and protest movements, reporting even the slightest hint of dissent to authorities.
In one case, a female informant provided valuable intelligence while hiding her activities from her own family, fearing exposure.
Double agents and corruption
The intelligence files expose widespread corruption within Assad‘s security apparatus, including double agents who worked simultaneously for regime forces and opposition groups.
Some officials reportedly facilitated the smuggling of individuals across borders for bribes ranging between $800 and $1,000 per person.
