A detainee’s death revives Syria’s memories of torture and abuse in prisons

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — The sudden death of Mohammad Ghamira, a 29-year-old father of two with hemophilia, has reignited painful memories of torture and abuse faced by detainees under Syria's Assad regime. Ghamira was arrested and allegedly beaten by Syrian security forces, leading to his death in a Latakia hospital on Sunday after being released from jail just days earlier. Authorities claim he died from complications related to cerebral and gastrointestinal hemorrhaging as a result of a beating during detention.

Rights groups, however, argue that Ghamira's death is not an isolated incident but rather part of a broader pattern of torture and ill-treatment in Syrian detention centers. In 2025, the U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry documented torture and ill-treatment in 18 official detention facilities and 12 makeshift facilities across Syria, including beatings with rifle butts, electric shocks, mock executions, and sexual violence.

Syrian rights organization Syrians for Truth and Justice stated that severe beatings, electric shocks, humiliation, and deaths in custody remain common practices at the hands of multiple security and military actors.

Ghamira's uncle, Issam Ghamira, claimed his nephew had hemophilia and had warned police against hitting him before his arrest. Despite this, Ghamira was hit while in custody. Syria's Interior Ministry announced an investigation into Ghamira's death and detained seven interior ministry personnel for questioning. The ministry spokesperson acknowledged shortcomings in some police departments but claimed others were performing "exceptionally."

Human rights groups remain skeptical, stating that the abuses are too widespread to be treated as isolated incidents and that the authorities have a responsibility to stop the behavior.