Inside Syria’s prisons for women | Now You Know

When the Assad regime fell in December 2024, opposition forces opened prison doors across Syria. For many, Assad’s demise was both a shock and a moment of long-awaited freedom. Yet for those who had endured years of torture, the scars – both physical and emotional – remain. How did they survive the unimaginable?

On this week’s episode of Now You Know, we talk to Maysaa Al Hassan. She was freed after 11 years in prison. She shares her experience of survival, and why she’s speaking out now: to seek justice for herself and for the countless women who endured Syria’s brutal prison system.

In this episode:
-Maysaa Al Hassan, Former Syrian prisoner

Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana, Zaina Badr, and our Host, Samantha Johnson.
Munera AlDosari is the engagement producer. Aya Elmileik is our lead of engagement.
Our sound designer is Joe Plourde. Our video editor is Catherine Hallinan.
Jo de Frias is Now You Know’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

[arshmash]

i hope more and more sisters would speak up. poor soul's mouth is wounded, suffering from memory loss. May Allah's la'na be upon the Nusairis and their Alies.

[lordvader]

Props to al jazeera for exposing these sorts of heinous crimes. These are severely underreported because of their gruesome nature.

[graceandarrogance]

Brave woman I admire you! Regardless of how far away we are from each other and what religion or regime stand between us, you are all my sisters. I pray for you whoever and whenever you are!

[ledhensrv]

Makes you wonder what's going on in Prisons in North Korea

[thewordsmithsdaughter]

What this woman endured was horrific. When will you centre the voices of victims from the HTS prison system or the recent sectarian violence that continues?

[Water-]

She's a good person. Jails like Bashar's shouldn't exist.

[cancel]

All very similar in Erdoğan's Turkey... Would you consider hearing the testimonies from pregnant women, raped women in Turkish prisons? Or women who, in tears, had to milk their milk into prison sinks as their babies were separated from them? Are you interested to make their voices heard? If yes, please reply and let's get in touch.

[sajalhossain]

ALLAH bless you all dear !
May ALLAH MERCY ON U !
❤️🤲🥺

[raaid]

aljazeera upping their propaganda game

[markthomas]

where do i apply for a job at this womens prison...asking for a friend