If Assad has nothing to hide, monitors should access Saydnaya prison - AI

Amnesty International challenged on Friday Syria’s regime head, Bashar Assad, to grant access for international monitors into Saydnaya prison and all other detention centers in Syria, after he doubted the credibility of that the latest report prepared by (AI) regarding torture, mass hangings in Syadnaya prison.

In response to Assad’s comments, the organization’s Research and Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Philip Luther, challenged Assad to grant access for international monitors into Syadnaya prison and all other detention centers in Syria.

“If he has nothing to hide he must immediately grant access for international monitors to Saydnaya and all other places of detention in Syria, Luther said.

Luther also said that even though Assad admits that there are executions taking place in Syria, “but fails to give any details whatsoever about the number carried out in Saydnaya or anywhere else in the country,” adding that Assad “must also reveal the truth about the number of executions taking place.” 

The official in AI also called on Russia to use its influence over Assad regime to allow in the monitors.

“Russia, which has also publicly dismissed the findings of the report should use its influence with the Syrian authorities to make this happen,” he said.

AI issued on Tuesday a report titled "Human Slaughterhouse: Mass hanging and extermination at Saydnaya prison," in which it said as many as 13,000 people were hanged in five years at the notorious Assad regime prison near Damascus, accusing the regime of a "policy of extermination."