Search for missing detainees at notorious Sednaya prison ends, family of Syriac Orthodox Archbishop Yohanna Ibrahim releases statement 

SEDNAYA, Syria — After days of intensive searches, the Syrian Civil Defense announced the conclusion of its efforts to locate undiscovered cells or basements within the notorious Sednaya Prison in the countryside of Daramsuq (Damascus). Despite thorough investigations, no hidden areas were found, leaving the fate of countless detainees unresolved.

Sednaya Prison, infamous for housing thousands of individuals detained by the regime of Bashar al-Assad, was believed to contain undisclosed chambers where detainees might have been held. The Civil Defense expressed disappointment, particularly for the families of thousands of missing detainees who remain without answers regarding their loved ones’ fates.

The organization called on international institutions to take decisive action to uncover the fate of the missing and support efforts for transitional justice in Syria.

The family of Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Holeb (Aleppo) Yohanna Ibrahim issued a public letter urging the opening of all prisons in Syria. They expressed hope for new information about the Archbishop, who, along with Greek Melkite Archbishop Bulos Yazji, was kidnapped in the countryside of Holeb in 2013. Despite years of efforts, their fate remains unknown.

The ongoing mystery surrounding the disappeared detainees and kidnapped clergy underscores the urgency for international action to address these unresolved injustices.