In a haunting scene reminiscent of Ramazan television series this year that delve into the era of former ruler Bashar al-Assad’s oppressive rule in Syria, a warden screams at a group of chained and crouching inmates. The Syrian prison depicted in these productions has long been shrouded in silence under Assad’s regime. Talking about Syria’s prisons, torture, enforced disappearances, and executions was taboo for decades, but now creative works explore the dark corners of this history.
Located north of Beirut, an abandoned soap factory has transformed into a replica of Saydnaya prison’s basements and corridors, where one of these TV series is being filmed. The Ramazan series “Going Out to the Well” explores the 2008 riots in Saydnaya, when inmates overpowered soldiers and engaged with Syrian intelligence services.
Saydnaya prison was one of Syria’s largest facilities housing political prisoners; thousands remain missing to this day. Amnesty International has branded it a “human slaughterhouse,” but for Syrians like many families in Lebanon today, Saydnaya remains an open wound.
For the character introduced in the “Going Out to the Well” series, there is a poignant moment of tension as he exchanges looks with his family before jumping into what appears to be a deep well. This scene encapsulates the struggles faced by detainees’ relatives, many of whom have spent years searching security facilities for news of their loved ones.
Samer Radwan, a Syrian writer, completed writing this series several months before Assad’s downfall and director Mohammed Lutfi has discussed how challenges including actors’ fears of the Assad regime’s reaction prevented initial production. Since his fall, productions have seized the opportunity to address issues related to Assad’s family rule openly.
Another TV series titled “Caesar, no time, no place” presents real-life stories from Syria’s prisons during the civil war that began in 2011. However, the Caesar Families Association has issued a strong statement rejecting such portrayals. The association contends justice lies in courtrooms, not on screens where their tragedy is transformed into dramatic material.
Meanwhile, “Governorate 15” features two inmates: one Syrian and one Lebanese, who leave Saydnaya after Assad’s regime ends. This series delves into the Syria refugee crisis through a character’s story, as they fled to Lebanon to escape the civil war raging in their home country.
As viewers continue to engage with these stories across the Arab world during Ramadan, creative productions are providing platforms for discussions about a period now marked by both horror and human resilience.