Virtual Museum in Damascus Preserves Stories of Decades of Prison Abuse Under Assad Regimes

A Syrian organization has launched a virtual museum to document the experiences of detainees in prisons long used under Assad family rule.

More details in the following report:

According to Arab News via AFP, the Syria Prisons Museum in Damascus offers 3D virtual tours of former prisons, survivor testimonies, and investigative studies into detention centers known for human rights abuses. The project aims to preserve memories of violence, murder, and repression, especially under the regimes of Hafez and Bashar al-Assad.

Amer Matar, the founder of the project, told AFP that the museum has had access to 70 prisons so far, collecting field documentation, family testimonies, and accounts of missing persons. The goal is to build a “living digital archive” to honor victims, support survivors, and provide evidence for holding perpetrators accountable.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, over two million Syrians have been imprisoned under Assad rule during the past five decades; more than 200,000 people are reported to have died in these prisons through execution, torture, or neglect. One notorious facility, Saydnaya prison, has been described by human rights groups as a “human slaughterhouse.”

Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s control in certain areas, the Brothers behind the virtual museum worked alongside Syrian and international organizations specializing in justice for missing persons. Supporters view the digital museum as a critical tool for transitional justice and remembrance.

While activists welcomed the launch, they cautioned that true accountability will require independent investigations and full access to justice for victims.