Enab Baladi – Nouran al-Samman

On December 8, following the fall of the Syrian regime and the opposition factions’ control over vast areas of Syria, including the prisons, hundreds of detainees were released, some of whom had spent over a decade in the regime’s dungeons. Gruesome video clips documenting the harsh scenes inside these prisons spread on social media and news sites, shedding light on the atrocities committed, especially in Sednaya prison.

The shocking scenes not only reflected the suffering endured by the detainees within these cells but also reopened deep psychological wounds for viewers who watched these videos, whether they were war victims or those interested in the humanitarian aspect of the Syrian tragedy.

Psychological effects

Consultant psychiatrist Dr. Molham al-Hiraki stated that watching videos documenting torture and abuses in Syrian regime prisons, such as Sednaya, causes profound psychological effects that vary from person to person, ranging from shock and anger to anxiety and panic.

Batool, a young woman from Aleppo, said curiosity drove her to watch the videos. “I was following the footage to try to understand what they went through, but I couldn’t continue watching.”

Batool was overwhelmed with anger and hatred, questioning, “How can a Syrian inflict such injustice on his brother?”

She stated that her mental health was severely impacted, “Even my body became heavy with negative emotions,” and she stopped watching to avoid further pain.

Shock and anxiety

Dr. al-Hiraki told Enab Baladi that these scenes present terrifying and unfamiliar images to the memory, making it incapable of processing them easily, which affects daily human functions, and in some cases leads to dysfunction, where some struggle to accomplish basic daily tasks, such as a father being unable to work or a mother unable to fulfill her family duties.

He added that sensitive individuals or those with traumatic memories are the most affected, experiencing renewed feelings of shock and anxiety, which leads to deteriorating mood states.

Some individuals suffer from profound sadness or feelings of helplessness that dominate for long periods, according to al-Hiraki.

Survivor’s guilt afflicts some Syrians

Fatima, from the city of Homs, read about the atrocities in the prisons before watching the videos, and she said, “Knowing what happened was enough to make me feel depressed, let alone the direct viewing. It was a very harsh experience, and despite the joy of the revolution’s victory, it was always tainted by the images of cruelty endured by the detainees.”

Dr. al-Hiraki believes that these videos, while important as legal evidence documenting crimes against humanity, also “weigh heavily on memory and affect people’s perceptions and beliefs.”

According to al-Hiraki, some individuals enter a state known as “survivor’s guilt,” where they feel guilty for not suffering the same fate as the victims.

Additionally, firm beliefs are shaken due to deep questions about divine or human justice.

Survivor’s guilt is defined as a psychological condition affecting individuals who survived difficult or devastating situations, such as wars, genocides, or natural disasters.

Survivors feel guilt for being alive while others lost their lives, especially if they knew those individuals directly.

This condition manifests in deep sadness, self-blame, and even a sense of not deserving life or happiness. For Syrians, with the conflict spanning a decade, the concept of survivor’s guilt has become part of the psychological experience of many. With hundreds of thousands of victims and others lost under rubble or in prisons, survivors found themselves facing a complex psychological reality.

Some Syrians live outside Syria or in safer areas within the country, while their loved ones and friends continue to suffer or have lost their lives.

Syrian community in one direction

On a societal level, al-Hiraki believes these scenes have dual effects, driving people in one direction, and “we are now headed in that direction.” On one hand, these images reinforce the “society’s conviction that the Syrian revolution was just,” leading to broader unity among Syrians against the “brutal” regime, including those who were previously neutral or even supportive.

He stated that these videos “provide information, but on the other hand, there is no need to follow them in detail; we only take a brief overview.”

On the other hand, al-Hiraki believes that these scenes would have spread feelings of helplessness and fear among large segments of the population if the regime had not fallen, and the leaks from inside the prisons imply an implicit message from the jailer that “any similar attempt will face severe consequences.”

Walid, a young man who has heard many painful accounts from detainees, said that “curiosity about what’s happening inside the prisons was a strong motivator to watch those videos, keeping me reminded of what the Assad regime did.”

However, following those videos was not easy for Walid. “I saw direct testimonies about the horrors of the prisons. I felt powerless, and my depression rendered me unable to sleep, so I stopped watching for a while, but curiosity was stronger. I wanted to remember the injustice, despite the pain.”

He added, “When we were victorious, my joy was incomplete; I couldn’t forget those who were trapped in the darkness of the cells.”

Walid considers these videos important for documentation, to keep “the memory alive,” so that we do not forget the crimes and ensure that all those who contributed to the oppression of these individuals are held accountable.

Motivation but cautiously

Dr. al-Hiraki advised the need to deal with these videos cautiously, emphasizing the importance of using them as a tool for motivating activity and service to the community, rather than mere curiosity or sensationalism.

The psychiatrist affirmed that the information is crucial for the mind to confirm the certainty that corruption and oppression cannot be ignored.

He also emphasized that these scenes should serve as a motivation to uphold the principles of justice and reject oppression and corruption, especially in the post-regime fall and Syrian revolution victory stage.

He pointed out that the information derived from these videos “should be employed to build a stronger Syrian society that rejects oppression and works to prevent the recurrence of these tragedies.”

According to a report titled “Impact of the Syrian Conflict” issued by the Syrian Center for Policy Research in 2020, the exacerbation of oppression is the root cause of the Syrian conflict, as well as political exclusion and civil rights violations. The absence of accountability and the use of force led to the “erosion of citizens’ voices and their representation.”

Scientific estimates indicate that about 10% of the world’s population suffer from some form of mental disorders.

According to the World Health Organization, 5% of adults worldwide suffer from depression, which is a common mental disorder.

Meanwhile, a report by the World Health Organization published in 2020 stated that 75% of people in Syria suffer from mental illnesses without receiving any treatment.

According to a study released by the World Health Organization and the medical journal “The Lancet” in 2019 regarding mental health in conflict-affected areas, one in five people living in conflict-affected regions suffers from some form of mental disorder, including anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.