By Ahmad Al-Remeh
Human rights reports have documented hundreds of cases of sexual violence against women in Syrian regime prisons. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, over 5,400 women, including 1,200 university students, were arrested between March 2011 and April 2013. These detentions continued throughout the revolution. Most women experienced some form of abuse. “Sahar,” a Damascus resident whose husband defected from the army and was later killed, tried to flee with her four children but was arrested at a central bus station.
The ordeal of a detainee
Sahar was subjected to all forms of torture: electric shocks, suspension, and psychological torment. She witnessed countless other detainees—both men and women—being tortured, some dying before her eyes. The trauma intensified when she was forced to watch fellow detainees being raped. She herself suffered group rape, describing the assaults as systematic and intentional acts of humiliation. The rapes were carried out in front of others to amplify the psychological damage. Sahar also witnessed the rape of male detainees.
One memory that haunts her is that of a young girl, Lama, only 15 years old, who died during rape. The physical scars on Sahar’s body tell a story words cannot: burns, wounds, and bruises that still mark her skin. She was eventually released as part of a prisoner exchange, believing the worst was over. However, the real tragedy began upon her release—her family disowned her, blaming her for what she had endured. “This wasn’t my fate alone,” she says, “It’s the fate of hundreds of women who paid a horrific price.”
Societal Punishment of Survivors
Many women face deeper trauma after release. Rather than being welcomed, they are judged and vilified. In a culture that sees rape as a stain on honor, these women are treated as though they were willing participants in their abuse. Families often refuse to take them back, and communities view them as morally tainted.
Women released through exchanges or after regime changes report feeling that they would have preferred to die in prison than face such societal cruelty. Survivor “Hanaa” explains that fear of societal rejection keeps many former detainees silent, perpetuating their suffering.
Psychologist Marah Al-Zeer highlights the acute psychological damage many women face. Often, survivors need long-term therapy to cope with the trauma. But societal rejection deepens the wound. Al-Zeer argues that this lack of support reflects a dangerous overlap between victim and executioner mentalities. A society that blames the victim and ignores the crime enables ongoing abuse.
A study by “Starting Point,” an NGO supporting detainees, revealed:
- 62% lost their husbands after detention
- 18% lost friendships
- 12% lost fiancés
- 6% were rejected by their families
- One case lost her job because a coworker believed she had informed on him
Ignorance Worse Than Prison
Despite women’s prominent roles during the revolution, traditional norms continue to frame them as weak and culpable. In many cases, female survivors are rejected while their male counterparts are celebrated. One woman from Homs reported being ostracized by her family, while her cousin—detained at the same time—was welcomed with fanfare.
Some women were divorced immediately upon their release, without any conversation or understanding. The contrast is stark and heartbreaking.
The Battle for Reintegration
Rebuilding life after detention is an uphill battle. Many survivors move to new areas to escape their social stigma. According to “Starting Point” research:
- 80% of sexual violence survivors withdrew from social life
- 74% of non-rape survivors also experienced social withdrawal
- 74% of rape survivors feared for their future vs. 48% of non-survivors
- 63% of raped women reported mood instability
- 51% became more self-reliant vs. 56% of non-survivors
- 41% suffered depression; 50% among non-survivors
- 48% experienced social distrust vs. 35% of non-survivors
- Only 18% became more outspoken vs. 37% of non-survivors
- 15% felt social equality vs. 22% of non-survivors
This data underscores the severe mental and emotional toll faced by survivors, and the absence of genuine community or institutional support.
Conclusion
The ordeal of female detainees under the Assad regime is a compounded tragedy. Victimized first by a brutal state, they are again betrayed by societal norms that blame them for their trauma.
It is crucial to empower civil society organizations to raise awareness through ongoing campaigns. Public understanding must shift to view these women as survivors, not shame-bearers. Survivors must be reintegrated into society with dignity—offered psychological care, employment opportunities, and legal protection.
This is not just a matter of justice; it is essential for societal recovery. Without such efforts, the suffering of these women will remain unseen and their future as bleak as their past.
