Former Syrian Military Leader’s Arrest Sheds Light On Saydnaya’s Dark Secrets

Map showing Syria and surrounding regions.

The arrest of Mohammed Kanjo Hassan reveals the atrocities linked to Saydnaya Prison and the complexities within Syria’s troubled human rights landscape.

At a Glance

Mohammed Kanjo Hassan, former Syrian military justice official, was detained in Tartus.
Hassan issued death sentences impacting detainees in the notorious Saydnaya prison.
Saydnaya prison was infamous for extrajudicial executions and torture.
The arrest casts a spotlight on unresolved cases of missing detainees in Syria.

The Arrest of Mohammed Kanjo Hassan

Syrian authorities recently arrested Mohammed Kanjo Hassan in the Assad-dominated region of Tartus. Hassan, a former military judiciary official under Bashar al-Assad’s administration, played a crucial role in Syria’s military field court, notably responsible for issuing death sentences to “thousands of people” detained in the notorious Saydnaya Prison.

Saydnaya, situated near Damascus, established its dreadful reputation due to practices of torture and extrajudicial executions. Allegations against Hassan include leveraging families financially, who sought information about disappeared relatives, profiting around $150 million from such exploits.

Syria's new authorities have arrested a military justice official who issued death sentences for people held in the notorious Saydnaya prison under the ousted government of President Bashar Assad.https://t.co/THyB0BCcwr

— DW News (@dwnews) December 27, 2024

Impact on Justice and Accountability

The opposition has welcomed Hassan’s arrest as an “important step on the path to justice and the prosecution of those who committed crimes against the Syrian people.” The arrest aligns with efforts to hold accountable those accused of severe human rights abuses during Assad’s regime.

Hassan served from 2011 to 2014, leading the military field court before being promoted to Syria’s chief of military justice. His trials were known for their expediency, often “trials that lasted minutes.”

#Syria’s new authorities have arrested a military justice official who under ousted president Bashar Assad issued death sentences for detainees in the notorious #Saydnaya prison https://t.co/3FILAdgXTn pic.twitter.com/uGN46oLXRH

— Arab News (@arabnews) December 27, 2024

The Broader Context of Human Rights in Syria

Saydnaya prison, notorious since the start of the civil war, remains a focal point for human rights organizations. They continue calling for justice and accountability in Syria. Post-Assad’s exit, investigations target former regime figures like Hassan, with his arrest accompanied by 20 others from his entourage.

U.N. refugee chief Filippo Grandi said, “Material conditions inside Syria remain dire—more humanitarian and recovery assistance must be delivered to returnees and all those in need.”

The tragic impact of the 13-year civil war left millions displaced, with lasting repercussions. Continuous monitoring and decisive actions remain critical in addressing unresolved detainee cases and aiding refugees considering their return.