Inside Syria's infamous torture center, the "Palestine Branch"

The conditions at the 'Palestine Branch,' a notorious interrogation and torture center used by the collapsed Baath regime in Syria for over half a century, were captured on camera for the first time. Built in the 1960s, the 'Palestine Branch' in the capital Damascus was one of the most infamous detention and torture centers under the Baath regime. The fallen regime tried to obscure the center's grim image by naming it after 'Palestine,' a term evoking innocence. People, especially those accused of 'terrorism,' were held for years at this center, enduring brutal torture and losing contact with their families. The 'Palestine Branch' became synonymous with terror, with those fearing the regime's security forces warning each other, saying, 'Do you want to end up in the Palestine Branch?' The images from the center, which reflected the brutality of the collapsing Assad regime, show dozens of cells where thousands of detainees were kept under inhumane conditions. On the lower floors of the center, small cells and dormitories, described as 'nightmares' by the detainees, were found. These dark, poorly ventilated spaces, filled with the stench of mold, were where prisoners slept in cramped conditions on the cold floors. Prisoners, whose freedoms had been stripped away, etched their suffering and hopes onto the walls, including the Turkish inscriptions 'Cimbom GS' and 'Canım memleketim 34 İstanbul' (meaning 'I love my country, 34 Istanbul'). Arabic inscriptions such as 'We seek refuge in you, Ali,' 'I miss you,' 'Mom,' 'The hardest farewell,' 'God, save us,' 'This nightmare will end tomorrow,' and 'Humanity is betrayal, lies, and oppression' were also found on the walls, alongside drawings of trees, houses, clouds, and lists of the names of friends who had fallen into prison. There were also calendars, tally marks to count the days, and graffiti reflecting daily life. After the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, the 'Palestine Branch' officials set some documents on fire as they left the building. The fire marks were visible on the outer walls, and piles of burned documents and files were found in the administrative areas of the building.