(Zaman Al Wasl)- Before he was detained in Assad’s prisons, he was healthy. He came out of the prison, ill and drained out of torture. His body is a witness to what Syrians face in the basements of death and cells of daily killing.
Doctor Kamal Muhee al-Deen al-Jum’a devoted himself to the work of Coordination Committees since the onset of the Syrian revolution. He worked in Ma’aret al-Nu’maan and countryside of Aleppo. He secretly transported medication between the two cities to help the injured; however, a colleague doctor in surgery department of Aleppo University Hospital reported him which led to his detention.
Personnel from State Security stormed the hospital handcuffed him. They transported him in a white car in front of all his colleagues. He was transferred on Friday to State Security Branch in Aleppo. He stayed there for a few hours before he was transferred again to 285 Security Branch subordinate to State Security with a helicopter from Aleppo to Damascus to face the worst types of interrogations and torture.
He refused to confess although he was severely tortured for 45 days and he was unconscious for days. Regime thugs then brought a reporter who works in Aleppo University Hospital. The reporter confronted Kamal that he was transporting medications and he met pro-revolution persons which forced Kamal to confess and sign on his statement, Kamal told Zaman al-Wasl.
Kamal was transferred from the 285 Security Branch to Sednaya Prison where there are three wings; one for the political prisoners, the white wing for civilians, and the red wing for terrorists. Kamal says, “whoever faces terrorism charges is put in the red prison. The red prison is known to be the prison of death and daily killings. Very few survive the red wing.”
Kamal lived through a daily death experience in the red wing. There is no language to describe the ugliness and savagery the ex-detainee experienced in Sednaya Prison in addition to cases of scabies, lice, furuncles, infections, and tuberculosis. Kamal tried to treat the different diseases with primitive methods and to offer treatment to injured to ease their pains as he was injured himself.
Kamal adds, “they used to give us moldy salt, jam, and bread. Animals would not eat the food they gave us. They physically and psychologically torture us as they give the food. This is not to mention the endless humiliations.”
The dormitory was 5 meter of length and 3 meters of width, Kamal was assigned with 100 other prisoners to the dormitory. They used to do shits; some would stand while others sit. The detainee would have one tile of space for himself.
The red wing detainees do not forget the morning and evening deportation of prisoners either to hospital or to security branches for further interrogations. Whoever was deported in the evening is usually shot directly or hanged.
After a year and 8 months in Sednaya Prison, Kamal was taken to Military Court in Qaboon. There, he was tortured with others in a collective torture.
He was taken to the judge to decide on his case. He was deported suddenly to al-Baluneh Prison in Homs, he recounts to Zaman al-Wasl.
Al-Bauneh is the military prison subordinate to Sednaya; however, it was better conditions for him and his colleagues there and he could see his wife for half an hour.
There are three dormitories underground. The prisoners were granted one-hour break to see sun light.
Kamal signed on his release papers on 9th of March 2016. He was released on 13th of April carrying his ID and a hope that did not leave him.
Kamal al-Jum’a returned to his house in al-Ghadfa town in Idlib countryside. He is trying to heal himself physically and psychologically to return to life with a bigger determination without giving up to any tyrant or jailor.
(Writing by Faris al-Rifai; translation by Rana Abdul)
Doctor Kamal Muhee al-Deen al-Jum’a devoted himself to the work of Coordination Committees since the onset of the Syrian revolution. He worked in Ma’aret al-Nu’maan and countryside of Aleppo. He secretly transported medication between the two cities to help the injured; however, a colleague doctor in surgery department of Aleppo University Hospital reported him which led to his detention.
Personnel from State Security stormed the hospital handcuffed him. They transported him in a white car in front of all his colleagues. He was transferred on Friday to State Security Branch in Aleppo. He stayed there for a few hours before he was transferred again to 285 Security Branch subordinate to State Security with a helicopter from Aleppo to Damascus to face the worst types of interrogations and torture.
He refused to confess although he was severely tortured for 45 days and he was unconscious for days. Regime thugs then brought a reporter who works in Aleppo University Hospital. The reporter confronted Kamal that he was transporting medications and he met pro-revolution persons which forced Kamal to confess and sign on his statement, Kamal told Zaman al-Wasl.
Kamal was transferred from the 285 Security Branch to Sednaya Prison where there are three wings; one for the political prisoners, the white wing for civilians, and the red wing for terrorists. Kamal says, “whoever faces terrorism charges is put in the red prison. The red prison is known to be the prison of death and daily killings. Very few survive the red wing.”
Kamal lived through a daily death experience in the red wing. There is no language to describe the ugliness and savagery the ex-detainee experienced in Sednaya Prison in addition to cases of scabies, lice, furuncles, infections, and tuberculosis. Kamal tried to treat the different diseases with primitive methods and to offer treatment to injured to ease their pains as he was injured himself.
Kamal adds, “they used to give us moldy salt, jam, and bread. Animals would not eat the food they gave us. They physically and psychologically torture us as they give the food. This is not to mention the endless humiliations.”
The dormitory was 5 meter of length and 3 meters of width, Kamal was assigned with 100 other prisoners to the dormitory. They used to do shits; some would stand while others sit. The detainee would have one tile of space for himself.
The red wing detainees do not forget the morning and evening deportation of prisoners either to hospital or to security branches for further interrogations. Whoever was deported in the evening is usually shot directly or hanged.
After a year and 8 months in Sednaya Prison, Kamal was taken to Military Court in Qaboon. There, he was tortured with others in a collective torture.
He was taken to the judge to decide on his case. He was deported suddenly to al-Baluneh Prison in Homs, he recounts to Zaman al-Wasl.
Al-Bauneh is the military prison subordinate to Sednaya; however, it was better conditions for him and his colleagues there and he could see his wife for half an hour.
There are three dormitories underground. The prisoners were granted one-hour break to see sun light.
Kamal signed on his release papers on 9th of March 2016. He was released on 13th of April carrying his ID and a hope that did not leave him.
Kamal al-Jum’a returned to his house in al-Ghadfa town in Idlib countryside. He is trying to heal himself physically and psychologically to return to life with a bigger determination without giving up to any tyrant or jailor.
(Writing by Faris al-Rifai; translation by Rana Abdul)
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